This was the reaction from Fiona Young, of the Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network, when it received a cheque for $2000 from the Wakatipu Lions Club.
Jan Thomas, from the Wakatipu Lions Club, said the funds were raised at the club's "Summer Soiree" function, held on November 1.
"Lions have supported several nationwide charity projects, but this year we were keen to find a worthy local cause.
"Fiona had spoken about the Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network at one of our club meetings, and this cause touched a lot of our members.
"So we decided to dedicate this event to raising funds for the network's important work," Ms Thomas said.
"We could not have raised that kind of money in one event. It will go a long way for us," Ms Young said.
The Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network has three full-time and four part-time employees plus about 10 volunteers, who work out of two small offices behind the toy library at the top of Man St.
The organisation has been given rooms for new premises by the Queenstown Lakes District Council in a Ballarat St house.
The rooms need renovation before staff can move into the new offices in February, and Tina Mongston, from the Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network, said the money raised by the Lions Club would help with that.
"One of our plans is to create a children's room, where the children who get referred to us will feel safe and comfortable.
"We will use some of the funds to redecorate one of the rooms specifically to suit the kids.
"We are also looking forward to having a second phone line at the new offices, which is an urgent need for the network," Ms Mongston said.
