TAVISTOCK Lions Club is making an immediate donation to its international foundation, as part of the fundraising effort to help victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

This donation is in addition to fundraising at the charity sale that is being held in Tavistock Town Hall on Saturday, January 30 from 10.30am to 4pm.

The sale is part of the Grass Roots Challenge project, established to raise funds for the elderly in the South West. Money received from the rent sale stalls will go to this charity, but funds raised by those taking part can be donated to their own cause. The Lions Club has selected ShelterBox, which is sending out hundreds of their emergency aid boxes to Haiti.

Earlier this month, the Lions was to hold a 'Share a Gift' stall at Tavistock Farmer's Market, but this had to be cancelled due to the adverse weather — the stall will now be part of the charity sale. Anyone with a gift they do not need or who would like to make a donation of any item is invited to bring it to the town hall on the day after 10.30am, drop it into the Times offices in Brook Street or Fairway Furniture in Tavistock, or contact Keith Penney on 07972 703659, who will arrange for any gifts, large or small to be collected.

A spokesman for the Lions said: 'This will be the third occasion the Lions have run such a stall, the first being for the victims of the tsunami in 2005 and the second in 2008 for the Anthony Nolan Trust, both of which generated a substantial amount of money.

'The Lions are hoping for a good response from the people of Tavistock and West Devon as they have always been well supported in the past with any fundraising activity. In addition to the 'Share a Gift' stall, the Lions will also be providing refreshments for the visitors and stall holders — all the profit will also be going to ShelterBox.'

Lions clubs all over the world are now fundraising to help the people of Haiti who are enduring intense suffering following the recent earthquakes. Donations are being made by the clubs to the Lions Clubs' International Foundation (LCIF), which ensures that the money is used to purchase much needed relief supplies such as fresh water, food, medicine and shelter, which is then forwarded to the clubs in the area.

There are three Lions clubs in Haiti itself, two in Port au Prince, and by dealing directly with these clubs and those in the neighbouring Dominican Republic, LCIF can ensure that the supplies reach the most needy people.

One example of Lions helping directly are members from a club in Ontario, Canada, who were in Haiti helping to establish a clean water system for the Mission of Hope Orphanage when the first earthquake struck.

They are now assisting in providing immediate medical care having established a command post that is administering assistance around the clock.