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Lions Rebuild Homes, Lives through Habitat Partnership
Little Jacob could not stand not knowing what was happening with the new home that was being built for him. He had been playing baseball that morning and had already circled the bases four times. The kids, even those from the opposing team, stopped and cheered him on. Jacob’s new home will be more handicap accessible and even have a yard where he can play ball.
Jacob and his family in Idaho are just one of the many recipients of a new home that has been built through Lions Clubs International Foundation’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The Lions of District 39-W, along with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and volunteers, prepared and planned for the blitz build for months. During the first week in June, the construction of Jacob’s handicap accessible home marked the 1,000th house built through the partnership since it began in 2000. The home, which served a benchmark build for the partnership, was dedicated on June 6.
“This has been the most tremendous experience,” said Darrell Hatfield, past district governor for 39-W. “It was an amazing project and I thank the Twin Falls Lions and Lions Clubs International Foundation for supporting and funding such a positive, heartwarming project.”
LCIF has pledged $12 million to Habitat for Humanity to build houses for individuals and families living with physical and mental disabilities. Funding from LCIF and Lions members has enabled families in the United States, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Sri Lanka, Romania, Canada, Belize, India, Hungary and Australia to experience new freedom.
“Lions have long been serving the needs of the less fortunate in their own communities and worldwide,” said LCIF Chairperson Mahendra Amarasuriya, “Through this partnership, we have been able to help more than 1,000 families have a better quality of life.”
The homes and lives that have been rebuilt demonstrate the service that Lions provide to populations in need. Combating disability is one of the four key focuses that LCIF Core 4 grants support. Through LCIF grants and the service of Lions from around the world, families like Jacob’s are being given a new sense of hope for the future.
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