The Romanian Aid Foundation & Asociatia Neemia

A second load has been dispatched from the Billingshurst warehouse and preparations are well in hand for a load to be dispatched from Swansea in the near future.

RoAF is not actively promoting the Christmas gift box scheme this year. We can accept boxes for named persons but the bulk distribution via schools and churches is no longer appropriate. There is an alternative arrangement whereby the most needy families will receive a donation of food purchased in Romania. See the RoAF website if you would like to help.

We are once again grateful for the delivery of another consignment of aid items. It is good to see the stock accumulating in the warehouse but better still to be able to pass the items on to people who have need for them. We have had many requests for bicycles and walking frames so it is helpful to have received more of each. Of particular value this time was two tons of rice, donated by a foundation in south Wales and transported via Billingshurst. The bulk sacks will be repackaged into quantities more suitable for local families. The stock of knitwear including hats, scarves, gloves, and teddies is also building up ready for the winter. Many thanks to those individuals and groups who can use their knitting skills to help others to keep warm.

It has been a good year for sunflowers. We have harvested several hundred kilos of seeds which will be pressed to provide oil for donation. Earlier in the year there was a good crop of fruit at the warehouse, again demonstrating the value of having the extra land there. In previous years we have helped families with gardens by sharing seeds sent from the UK. Unfortunately we are no longer permitted to receive packets of seeds from the UK but suitable substitutes are now available locally.

As the weather becomes cooler we need to consider the possibility of purchasing firewood for a limited number of families. Policies intended to preserve the natural forests and encourage economic progress have led to increases in the costs of all forms of energy to the point where many households have difficulties keeping warm in the winter months. One of this month’s chores for most rural households is ensuring that enough firewood is ready for the coming winter.

Romania has again achieved notoriety as one of the hot-spots for renewed COVID outbreaks. There is little confidence in the authorities to establish effective counter-measures and the restrictions that are imposed are widely regarded as optional. This has an impact on how our staff go about their work especially as we cannot assume that all our visitors have complied with the health recommendations.

This month’s featured photos

• Unloading at the Warehouse
• Sunflower seeds
• Donated bicycles

Last month’s performance statistics

These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.

Stats notes:
– Joiners are new registrants this month, Leavers are are those whose latest recorded donation was 12 months ago.
– Some households may receive more than one donation during a month (eg, repeat donations of food).
– Items shown as 0 or as “…” are awaiting final returns for the month.

 
Previous month’s news, September 2021