The La Center Lions Club and Vice President Edie Brannon will be honored with the Lions International Kindness Matters Service Award on May 13 for its “Wonderful Onesies” project.
The award is presented to clubs who create high-impact service projects within one of the Lions International and Lions Clubs International Foundation cause areas, which includes diabetes, childhood cancer, environment, hunger, vision, disaster relief, youth or humanitarian efforts.
Only 30 of the 48,000 Lions Clubs internationally receive the honor. The La Center Club is one of six awards granted in the United States, according to a news release.
Last year, Brannon responded to a Facebook inquiry that asked for assistance to source an infant onesie to a 7-month-old cancer patient in Tennessee so she could stay warm during her chemo infusions. Brannon searched the internet and was unable to find a source, so she decided to make a few modified onesies using her own money and design for the mother at no charge.
After receiving feedback, Brannon improved the design. She contacted her La Center Lions Club and other clubs in the area for assistance to provide the modified onesies for other infants who underwent chemo infusions, kicking off the Wonderful Onesies project.
“Any act of kindness helps raise the spirits of both the patient and the family, improving the odds for a successful outcome,” Brannon stated in the release. “Comfort is important during treatments to (improve) the wellbeing of the patient. The modified onesies provide the parent with a feeling of a little control and input into their child’s treatment and are provided at no charge.”
After sewing the first 100 onesies and distributing 80 others through word of mouth, Brannon coordinated with local children cancer hospitals to service their needs, stated the release. She has been asked by hospital personnel to expand the project to include onesies modified for other treatments like dialysis.
“When a support person/family member requests a Wonderful Onesie package, they receive a gift of two age-appropriate Wonderful Onesies stamped with ‘Wonderful Onesies from Lions,’ a business card for questions and concerns, a gold childhood cancer awareness ribbon and a non-squeaking toy in a gift-wrapped box,” stated the release.
The La Center Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of the month in the cafeteria of La Center Elementary School.
Lions clubs include groups of men and women who identify needs within their community and work together to fulfill them.
For more information on the Wonderful Onesies project, visit the Facebook page or email chemoonesiesfromlions@gmail.com.
More information on the La Center Lions Club can be found on their self-titled Facebook page.
