Lions and LCIF are helping victims of Hurricane Katrina on a grand scale. Lions are staffing shelters, coordinating eye screenings, distributing glasses and collecting funds, food and supplies.

LCIF has collected more than US$1.5 million for its Hurricane Katrina relief fund and committed US$270,000 from its own funds. LCIF is focusing on: 1.) providing shelters with unmet substantial needs such as food, clothing, personal hygiene items and bedding, 2.) offering health services such as eyeglass distribution, and 3.) meeting needs of Lions camps and facilities housing victims of the disaster.

LCIF Chairperson Clement Kusiak has appointed a steering committee of four leading Lions from the four states most affected by the tragedy to serve as liaisons between LCIF, Lions in the disaster areas and Lions who want to help.

LCIF has a sample press release to help Lions clubs publicize their relief efforts. LCIF also has set up a Web-based Help Link to connect Lions who want to volunteer time or donate goods with Lions in the affected areas who are staffing shelters or otherwise helping victims

LCIF also has set up a designated fund for Lions and others who wish to help the hurricane victims. Donations to LCIF for Hurricane Katrina from Aug. 29 to Nov. 30, 2005, are eligible for Melvin Jones Fellowship recognition. To count toward an MJF, the donation must be a single US$1,000 payment from a donor. The Melvin Jones Fellow does not have to be named when the donation is made.

Lions and LCIF are assisting hurricane victims in numerous ways. One of the more notable initiatives is a partnership with UNICEF to distribute "schools in a box." Lions delivered 23 kits, each of which serves 80 children, to two school districts in Mississippi that suffered heavy damage. The kit allows a teacher to establish a makeshift classroom almost anywhere. The school kit operation is the first time the U.S. government permitted UNICEF to aid in an American disaster. Lions are one of only four distribution organizations.

Another notable initiative is the deployment of a mobile eye van belonging to the Alabama Lions to provide vision exams and dispense eyeglasses in Mississippi. Vision Service Plan (VSP) is providing optometrists to staff the van (in addition to volunteer Lions), and the University of Alabama-Birmingham is providing the necessary equipment. Uncovered expenses will be paid for by LCIF from the US$200,000 Major Catastrophe grant it awarded shortly after the disaster.