Frome Lions’ hay bale collection will this year raise money for the Stroke Association and Frome Talking Newspapers.
Each year, the Lions Club of Frome invite farmers to donate hay, straw or a monetary sum, which then raises money for a specific local charity or organisation who the Lions consider worthy of their support.
The hay or straw collected is then sold to other farmers at the market value.
Last year, this raised a total of just over £1,500 which was given to Somerset Air Ambulance. Over the years, this initiative has been very successful in raising funds for the neo-natal unit at the RUH, Positive Action on Cancer, the Evergreens Exercise Class and Frome’s Gateway Club.
The Stroke Association aims to give practical, emotional and financial help and support to families and those affected by a stroke, helping with rehabilitation and recovery to improve quality of life.
It is estimated that 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK in a year, one person every five minutes. A stroke changes lives, not only the person involved but their family and friends.
Frome Talking Newspapers is a service that provides recordings of the Frome Standard that have been read by local volunteers and then distributed to people who are registered blind and partially sighted around Frome. This gives help to those who would find reading extremely difficult, allowing them to find out about local news and events.
The Frome Lions will be shortly sending out letters and information to farmers to arrange dates to visit the farms to collect any donations made.
The Lions would ask that if you are a taxpayer and make a monetary contribution, to please submit your donation with the completed ‘Gift Aid’ donation form, so a little extra can be claimed back off the government.
The Lions Club is hoping that farmers have had a better time this year with the hot weather aiding haymaking and that the farming community and the economy in general have improved.
The Lions Club of Frome would like to thank everyone who is able to support them again this year, as any donation would be greatly appreciated.
