A Barrack Heights family in need has benefited from the hard work and generosity of the Lions Club.
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Christie Hainsworth is a single mother residing in a Housing NSW property with her children Leteisha Gold and Hunter Sinclair.
Leteisha, 16, has been diagnosed with an intellectual disability, autism, chronic sleep disorder, severe behavioural issues and anxiety.
Ms Hainsworth's three-year-old son Hunter was born with a fused skull and has undergone two reconstruction surgeries.
Leteisha has a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) package and approximately 70 hours of support in the home each week.
Her mother unsuccessfully sought funding from a series of Illawarra agencies and other avenues to purchase an air conditioning unit for the family home.
The air conditioning unit request was to benefit Leteisha, her family and the workers impacted by the heat at their family home.
The heat greatly impacts on Leteisha's behaviour, hygiene and sleeping patterns.
Following this, Oak Flats Lions Club secretary Gary Flint said they were approached by a Family & Community Services representative to see if they could help the family.
Therefore, the Oak Flats club utilised funds they had already raised to purchase the $1500 air conditioner and donate it to the Hainsworth family.
"It's a big help - just tremendous," Ms Hainsworth said.
"If it's too hot, we can put it on, turn the TV on and she'll relax, she'll be calmer.
"We're so thankful to the Lions."
Mr Flint said the in-home workers were having to take Leteisha out of the home and into air-conditioned places such as McDonald's or shopping centres just to get out of the heat.
"Which in turn was making it more difficult to establish essential routines and practices in the home," he told the Mercury.
The air conditioner, which was recently installed, was purchased via assistance from a compassionate grant from the Australian Lions Foundation (ALF).
The air conditioner was funded on a 50/50 basis by Oak Flats Lions and the ALF.
"We get approached to help out by the local community from time to time, and we do what we can for them," Mr Flint said. "We try to look after our local community as much as we can."