Lions Club of George Town Mutiara, a community-serving club, has implemented several meaningful projects that spans a long-term duration or a specified period, ensuring that needy and/or beneficiaries experience relief from their hardships until they have fully recovered. A one-time initiative will yield limited results and may not effectively address the ongoing needs of the community. The three continuing projects are the Needy Family Project which started in 1993, and the Medical Assistance Project in 2010 and the Hunger Relief Project in 2012.

NEEDY FAMILY PROJECT

In 1993, LCGTM launched the Needy Family Project by adopting three families who faced significant financial hardship. The committee committed to visit these families biweekly to assess their needs. The club acknowledged the critical role of ongoing financial support, particularly concerning education and food provisions. Assistance would cease once a family achieved self-sufficiency or when certain NGOs assumed responsibility for their care. The duration of support provided to each family was set not more than three years. Initially, the project was known as Family Adoption. The club has three(3) needy families as at fy 2024-2025.

1993-2023 Club Project Chairperson: PP Quah Bah Aik

2023-2024 Club Project Chairperson: President Joyce Cheah

2024- Club Project Chairperson PP Lily Teoh

MEDICAL AID ASSISTANCE

In 2001, LCGTM approved several applicants for medical aid, including a kidney patient named Mr. K.L.Chung, a cash donation to a cancer victim, and referrals for several cataract patients during the 'I-Care' campaign. Despite the club's desire to extend further aid to those in need, the limitations of project funds restricted their capacity to offer substantial support. Consequently, the club opted to partner with hospitals to implement larger initiatives.

LCGTM chose to collaborate with Pantai Hospital Penang, having previously engaged in several projects with them since 2000, including the Health Screening Awareness event at Giant Supermarket and the 'Walk For Life' Walkathon in 2002. The relationship with the hospital was strong.

On May 15, 2010, during the club's 22nd Charter Anniversary at the Eastin Hotel, the club formalized this partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Pantai Hospital Penang; renewal every three years. This agreement led to the creation of the 'Lions GTM - Pantai Penang Medical Fund,' which is overseen by a committee consisting of five representatives from both LCGTM and Pantai Hospital Penang. Both parties agreed to contribute $10,000 each to launch the fund, with plans to raise additional funds through fundraising events and appeals. The fund will assist the public in need of medical treatment subject to the rules and conditions by both parties. Thanks to the hardworking fund management committee chairman Dato’ Khoo KH who kept the working relationship strong between LCGTM and Pantai Hospital Penang. The team have become more connected with trust and with this comes the feeling of reliability and getting better and stronger.

As of June 2023, LCGTM is pleased to report that we have assisted 288 individuals in need of medical treatment. The treatments provided include cataract surgery for 266 patients, cardiac procedures for 3, total hip replacement for 1, total knee replacement for 18, and oncological care for 1 patient.

2010 - Project Chairman: PDG Dato' Khoo KH

HUNGER RELIEF PROJECT

The club carried out the hunger relief projects randomly as early as 2011. In 2013-2014, PP Kenny Yang, who was serving as president, designated it as a presidential project aimed at addressing hunger, following LCI’s Centennial Service Challenge in the 'Relieve the Hunger'. The official launch of the project took place on January 7, 2014, at the Kechara Soup Kitchen Centre (KSK), with the presence of PDG Lee Boon Hoe, then District Governor, and 1VDG Ooi Chao Shyuan. Ms. Patsy, who managed the centre, fully supported our club. The Lions went to the streets in Georgetown to feed the homeless. During the six months, approximately 150 meal boxes, along with bottled water and fruits, were distributed to those in need and the homeless every Tuesday. With the change of presidentship, the club still continued with the project on first Tuesday on a monthly basis using the KSK Centre.

On January 7, 2023, the location of the hunger relief project was relocated to Rifle Range Flats to assist the underprivileged residents. This venue change proved beneficial as it allowed us to extend our support to a different area, enabling KSK to operate independently. The project has been ongoing on the first Wednesday of each month up to the present day.

2013-2014 Club Project Chairperson: Lion Peter Hoffmann

2014-2020 Club Project Chairperson: CP Danny Lim

2020- Club Project Chairperson PP Samantha Sam