THE Gawler Lions Sunday Markets are returning this Sunday to the Gawler Railway Station after initially shutting down in February due to COVID-19 concerns.
The markets, in which stallholders pay a fee to the Gawler Lions Club to organise and facilitate, is the club’s primary source of fundraising, with that money being pumped back into the local community.
As part of its COVID-safe plan, people will be restricted from eating or drinking while not seated, and COVID marshals will be present to enforce social distancing.
Gawler Lions Club member Helen McGee spoke about the different ways the club uses the funds it raises.
“Some of the biggest examples of how we try to help is with the bushfires,” she said.
“That’s been a really big project that we’ve had over the years, starting back before the Pinery Fires we were involved with Samson Flat, as well as floods out Virginia-way.
“Basically any charitable organisation can apply for a grant from us and we help as much as we can.”
As well as donating money to charity efforts, the Gawler Lions Club also has initiatives such as putting together Christmas hampers, and bags of shopping for UCare Gawler to help the hungry.
Gawler Lions Club member David Schwartz said while members have tried to stay in touch through phone calls and a few socially-distanced meetings, it will be a great opportunity for members of the Sunday markets community to get back together.
“We’ve been hearing from all our regular stallholders non-stop ‘when are the markets opening again’,” he said.
“A lot of these people plan their weekends around the markets, and use it as an opportunity to spend time with friends, or even make new ones.
“It’s something we’ve all missed dearly during the shutdown and it’ll be great to see the familiar faces.”
For more information visit the Gawler Lions Sunday Markets Facebook page.