A helping hand when it’s needed most: Lions Free Trade Day offers a lifeline as cost-of-living crisis hits hard
As the cost of living continues to soar, more Australians are facing the heartbreaking reality of having to choose between basic needs and urgent repairs to their homes. Next Friday, Free Trade Day, a project by Lions Australia, will step in to ease that burden, giving people doing it tough the gift of dignity, safety and hope by connecting them with volunteer tradespeople who are offering their services for free.
Free Trade Day is a Lions Club of Terrigal-Wamberal project. Those who are doing it tough and in need of a trade-specialty job are nominated by their community and matched with a relevant team of tradespeople who complete the job, free of charge.
On 25 October, over 200 tradespeople will undertake dozens of jobs across the Central Coast region in one day, helping the most vulnerable members of the community.
This year, recipients include a single mother of three, diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer, whose home is in desperate need of repairs. Without Free Trade Day, this mother would have no way to fix the damage, making it even harder to care for her children as her illness progresses.
Another heart-wrenching story comes from the Wyong Family Care Cottage, which supports families of sick children. They’ll receive critical renovations that will allow them to continue offering respite to families already overwhelmed by the weight of illness.
Free Trade Day founder, Ryan Wilson, is a Central Coast electrician and Lions Club member. He is thrilled to see Free Trade Day grow, with more supporters joining the ranks.
“In 2017, I took a job for an elderly man who had been without water for six months. After fixing the problem, I discovered that he had been suffering in silence for far too long because he was unable to afford basic repairs.”
“Sadly, he passed away shortly after the job was completed, but I couldn’t shake the thought of how many more people like him were out there, and that’s where the idea for Free Trade Day was born. It’s become a Lions project, and it’s been great to see it grow each year.”
“The day is just so powerful. Not only are the recipients crying happy tears but the tradies and Lions volunteers are also often overcome with emotion realising that they have used their skills to change someone’s life.”
CEO of Lions Australia Rob Oerlemans says Free Trade Day is just one example of Lions Australia’s commitment to helping people in need.
“As the cost-of-living crisis continues, we’re seeing more and more people really struggling in our community. Lions Australia is committed to stepping in where help is most needed. Free Trade Day is a perfect example of how our volunteers are working together and bringing the community together to help those in need.”
“At the heart of every community is a Lions Club, and in times like these, our volunteers are more committed than ever to help.”
Lions Australia runs a variety of community service projects across Australia, ranging from disaster and compassionate relief to youth programs, medical research, environmental work and support for people living with disabilities.
Some Lions are on a mission to cure childhood cancer and diabetes, others are committed to assisting those impacted by drought and floods, and many are simply working together to help people in need in their local community. One thing all Lions have in common is together they are making an incredible difference.
For more information on Lions and how to get involved, visit lionsclubs.org.au.
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