Check out the “Help a Child, Help a Family” collection, which supports families with children by providing them with products donated from shops. Run by Lions clubs and partners, the collection has grown to become a major form of aid. During the lesson, you will learn about the history of the collection, experiences, tips and join an ALAP discussion group to share ideas and learn from each other.

Learn about the key steps in planning an ALAP collection. You will learn how to choose a suitable shop, secure partners and clearly allocate tasks. You will also get tips on how to buy materials and ensure the continuity of the collection. As an exercise, you will plan your own collection.

Learn how to present the ALAP collection to your club in an inspiring and effective way. Use the materials on the training page, including a presentation and videos, to support your presentation. Get tips on engaging club members and practical arrangements such as registration and assigning responsibilities. As a practice exercise, you will prepare your own presentation speech for your club.

Learn about effective ways to deliver collected donations to families in need. Learn how to find and agree on distribution channels, sort and deliver items to partners, and build long-term relationships. You will also receive a list of potential distributors and, as an exercise, you will map out the partners in your area.

Learn which products are best suited for ALAP collection, such as dry food, hygiene products and children’s accessories. Get tips on how to guide donors and identify current needs with partners. As an exercise, you will draw up a recommended list of products to be distributed, based on the advice of the distribution channels.

Learn how to approach a shop effectively and agree on how to organise a collection. The shop owner will give you tips on how to present the collection clearly, how to prepare for the meeting and what practical things to agree in advance. As a practice exercise, you will map the shops in your area, contact the traders and present the collection with promotional materials.

To make the collection run smoothly, enough volunteers are needed for the various tasks. Learn how many people should be present at different stages, how to schedule shifts and where to find more volunteers. As a practice exercise, you will draw up a list of shifts for your first collection, taking into account your workload and breaks.

The right materials, such as advertisements, flyers and signage, are needed to make the collection a success. You will learn what supplies you need, how to use ready-made ALAP bags and how to develop your own collection equipment. As a practice exercise, you will make a checklist of the materials you need and make sure everything is ready before the collection.

Learn how to increase the visibility of your ALAP collection before and after the event. We’ll go over free and paid marketing channels, message crafting and how to use social media. As a practice exercise, you will develop a short marketing plan and choose the easiest ways to make the collection known in your area.

Learn how to build an effective and visible collection point inside or outside a store. We’ll go over best practices for placing ads, setting up a donation drop-off point and assigning volunteer roles. As an exercise, you will design a collection point and make a checklist for setting it up.

Learn how handing out flyers and friendly interaction with store customers can help make the collection a success. Get tips on how to make short presentations, answer common questions and create a positive atmosphere. As a practice exercise, you will develop your own way of inviting customers to participate in the collection and test what works best.

Learn how brief conversations with donors can open doors to long-term partnerships. Get practical tips on how to thank donors, tell them about Lions activities and invite them to follow upcoming events via a WhatsApp group. As a practice exercise, set up a WhatsApp group in your area on “seuraa.lions.fi” and use the QR code to prepare an invitation to donors.

Learn how to ensure a smooth and efficient delivery of goods to distributors. We will go through sorting and packing according to the needs of the distributor and how to instruct volunteers. As a practice exercise, you will write a short instruction on the delivery and sorting of goods to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Reporting on the Lions Portal is important to monitor and improve the effectiveness of Lions activities. You will learn what information is needed for reporting, how to collect it effectively and who is responsible for reporting. As an exercise, you will work with your club secretary to create an effective way to collect and report activity data.

This lesson will review the key lessons of an ALAP collection: how to plan and implement a collection, organise volunteers, build a collection point, meet donors and deliver donations to distributors. The importance of reporting to the Lions portal and ensuring the continuity of collections will also be discussed. As a practice assignment, you will complete the course, participate in a collection and share what you have learned with other Lions.