Sponsorship quest begins for Licola

LIONS Club of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads is calling out for financial sponsors to help send the area’s brightest young students to the annual Licola Camp.

Local Lions club member John Claringbold is signing up sponsors, aiming to provide 12 children with the opportunity to attend the January camp.

“I’ve acquired three sponsors so far, a few friends and family members, but I’m hoping to obtain 15 all together for each child the club intends to send,” Mr Claringbold said.

“We’re mainly looking for businesses to contribute. If anyone is looking for a way to help out in the community, this is a fantastic way to do that.

“The camp aims to extend a participant’s comfort zones by having them away from home for five days and the result is gaining a bit more independence and a bit more confidence.

“It’s a good learning curve for them and it’s a chance for them to learn a whole bunch of new skills.”

Each child, aged between eight and 11 years old, costs $320 to send to the Lions Licola Wilderness Village, located 254 kilometres east of Melbourne in East Gippsland.

Ongoing sponsor of the Licola Camp and Ocean Grove business Piping Hot Chicken and Burger Grill is again raising money to send as many children as it can.

Owner Tammy McAdam said her business has helped send children to Camp Licola in recent years.

“We’ve probably sent between seven and eight children to the camp in the last four years,” Ms McAdam said.

“We also have a little yellow lion on our counter which anyone with loose change can put money into. Once that fills up, we give it to John and he takes it to the bank.

“People invest into the camp because it’s run by the Lions club, it’s a not-for-profit that does really good work.

“We had a young guy come into the shop recently and he said he really enjoyed the camp growing up, so he just put $50 in, which was awesome.”

Mr Claringbold said he has until November 1 to acquire funds, otherwise placements will be reduced.

For more information about sponsoring and volunteering contact John Claringbold on 0425750387 or at [email protected].