The Romanian Aid Foundation & Asociatia Neemia

This month signifies 30 years since the first aid lorry and the experiences which eventually led to the foundation of the Romanian Aid Foundation and Asociatia Neemia – so much for a ‘one-off’ venture!

Our thanks go to those who have responded so generously to our request for help for the refugees from the war in Ukraine. We sent one lorry at the end of March with clothing, bedding and food, and with an additional donation of new mattresses. With these items we will be able to provide for the refugees as well as continuing our usual donations to local people.

The main activity of the AN team this past month has been expanding the facilities that we can offer to refugees passing through this area. The initial design of Casa Neemia included a large attic space, in anticipation of the eventual expansion of the accommodation.

We have received generous funding which has allowed us to make good progress with the preparation of the new rooms. There are two rooms, each capable of providing accommodation for up to four people; each room has its en-suite bathroom and a small kitchen unit where, for example, a family could prepare some food independently of that on offer in the main dining room. The other facilities of the house will, of course, be available to them.

This work is now nearing completion, a fire resistant staircase has been installed along with other safety measures and we are waiting for the final approval to start using the new rooms.

In our experience to date, the refugees fall into one of three groups.
> There are those who are grateful for the opportunity for rest and refreshment, and then want to move on; we have been able to help them in this way using our existing facilities.
> There are others who want to stay close to the border, with the intention of going back to rebuild their country as soon as it is safe to do so.
> There is a third group; those who have nowhere to go on to and nowhere to go back to. Often they have brought very little with them; they need the most help, especially those who have been traumatised by their experiences.
In co-operation with other charities and individuals we are working at ways of helping the second and third groups on a longer term too. We trust that our visitors will find peace of mind as well as satisfaction of their physical needs.

In addition to assisting the refugees we have continued with our normal aid distribution. Our staff and existing residents have responded well to the additional workload and disruption.

This month’s featured photos

• A full load, with bedding and mattresses
• A new bathroom nears completion
• Laying the flooring

Last month’s statistics

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, March 2022

Just three months after emptying their warehouse, the team at Billingshurst is now reporting that they have reached capacity again and are ready to send a lorry as soon as it can be accepted. In south Wales too we have received generous quantities of items, to the point where storage once again threatens to be a major concern.

Our activities in Romania are based in Dorohoi which is just 15 miles from the border with Ukraine at its nearest point; the official crossing points are further away but still within easy reach. Refugees from Ukraine are arriving in this area and there are many social organisations, church groups and individuals who are offering them help of various kinds. However, in a document of this type, it is impossible to give a detailed update on the situation as it evolves hour by hour.

Many refugees have arrived with only what they could carry. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of many people in the UK we have a stock of clothing, knitwear and bedding left after the winter, and some of these items have already been sent to those who are providing front line relief and addressing immediate needs. Several of our staff have friends and family who have contacts with other charities, and we have shared bedding and knitwear with them. Many of the arrivals prefer to head towards established Ukrainian communities further west but our help will continue to be offered to those who decide to stay in this area. Romania is on the eastern flank of both NATO and the EU. It is one of those countries where an aggressor might choose to test the resolution and abilities of those two organisations. This is an unsettling thought but we know that everything is still under God’s control.

During the past few days our activities have been focused on helping the women and children fleeing Ukraine (men are no longer allowed to leave). The accommodation at Casa Neemia has been rearranged so that we can offer a secure respite and hot meals to those who need them. For the most part, the refugees stay in our area for only a day or two, pausing for rest before continuing their journey to family and friends already established further west. We have been able to supply bedding, toys, and other items to many places that are offering this type of accommodation, including both charitable and municipal initiatives. A minority of refugees decide to stay in this area, feeling closer to their loved ones at home. We have been able to help prepare facilities for them too, as well as making our resources directly available to them as individuals.

Our special thanks go to all those who donated bedding, knitwear and other items throughout the past year; we are sharing them with several organisations that are providing temporary accommodation for refugees from Ukraine. We had no idea as to why we should have such a large quantity, but God knew there was a need coming.

Throughout February we continued to provide clothing, footwear and bedding to our ‘regulars’ plus to some new households. Items such as crutches, incontinence aids and wheelchairs are still in demand, as are toys and stationery. However, it remains to be seen to what extend we can continue to receive these items under the terms of the new regulations.

Some customs areas do not allow toys as essential aid – presumably those officials do not have children or grandchildren of their own!

This month’s featured photos

• Bedding from UK: ready for dispatch and delivery
• Volunteers greet refugees with blankets from RoAF-AN (© Star of Hope)
• A warm room was prepared by the Havirna council

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, February 2022

Packing sessions at Horley have restarted on Friday afternoons, with a moderate but consistent supply of items being donated. The Billingshurst warehouse was effectively empty after the December lorry but offers of duvets and sporting goods will soon restore the usual level of activity. In Swansea the state of the warehouse precludes the storage of most items during the winter so one of the first tasks will be consolidating the separate collections that have been kept safely in diverse locations.

Winter has finally arrived in this part of Romania, coincident with the return to school. A complication this year is that many schools that rely on central heating are having to restrict the heating in the classrooms; rural schools which still have wood stoves in the classrooms are better suited to the cold weather although the supply of wood remains a problem. We do still have a small amount of wood for the most needy households but the ability to help with other energy bills is extremely limited. However, we are able to continue to provide warm clothing and knitwear for those who request them, and we are grateful to those who have sent these items.

As mentioned last month, sponsorship from our UK teams allowed us to make up Christmas gift packs using goods acquired locally. Food packs were given to 153 households, a selection of treats to 70 families with children, and cakes to the residents at Casa Neemia. Four families with young babies received powdered baby milk in December and again in January, and one larger family receives a regular supply of fresh milk. The sponsorship was sufficiently generous to allow us to plan a similar food distribution at Easter and continue providing powdered milk until then.

Last year’s permit for importing goods from outside of the EU expired at the end of December. It will be necessary to renew the permit for this year; new procedures have been introduced which may reduce the range of goods that can be received without paying import taxes. It is also possible that each load will require a separate permit, adding to the complications. It is disappointing that our comparatively small aid activities are being caught up in regulations drafted for large commercial enterprises.

This month’s featured photos

• More help on its way

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, January 2022

Another year has passed, with its particular difficulties and successes. Despite lockdowns, travel restrictions and evolving bureaucracy, our teams were able to send 5 loads of clothing and other useful items. The old calendar is replaced by a fresh new one and after a short break the work resumes. Despite the problems of the past year, with its restrictions on movement and normal activities, even when at one point there was only one day’s stock remaining, nevertheless AN was able to continue to provide help to those in need around us.

We did not make the general distribution of Christmas boxes this year but we did deliver the family boxes intended for specific households as in previous years. After some 20 years of the ‘Joy in a Box’ scheme, its primary purpose of providing gifts for those who might not receive anything has been superseded by the ability of most households, schools and churches to provide gifts themselves for their children. However, those in the most need were not left out; specific sponsorships allowed AN to prepare some gifts for the most needy. Bags of ‘goodies’ were made up for children and a packages of food items were prepared for those families in the most difficult circumstances. For the children, the bags contained fruit, biscuits and chocolate items, together with a pack of face masks for the return to school. For households, the pack contained a selection of items including flour, sugar, oil, fresh fruit, tinned vegetables and domestic essentials. There were also some ‘Joy in a Box’ presents that did not make the final transport in time for last Christmas, and we were able to give these out too.

Earlier in the year, AN worked with a company that wanted to help a family whose house had burnt. The company could not give money directly but AN, as a recognised charity, acted as agent on behalf of the two parties. This is one example of additional services to the local community that can be offered beyond the basic distribution of aid.

Thank you for your support during 2021, let’s work together in 2022!

In the UK, new regulations were due to come into force on 1st January. This may mean changes to the types of goods that we can send. Once the situation becomes clearer we will update our advice to donors accordingly.

This month’s featured photos

• Christmas joy
• Gift distribution
• Winter’s here

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, December 2021

The day-to-day work of the AN team has continued this month with the distribution of clothing and household goods received from the UK. In addition, some supporters have taken a particular interest in one family or another and we are able to forward gift boxes sent specifically for those families.

Special funding during this month has allowed AN to purchase some locally-sourced foodstuffs to supplement the rice and other food received from south Wales. These items are always well-received and the effort involved in sending them is very worthwhile.

A major involvement this month has been the provision of an indoor bathroom and additional living space for a rural family. This project has been sponsored from the UK but AN oversees the workers and arranges for the materials as required. Whilst food and clothing are immediate essentials for many households, this type of project provides a long-term benefit for one family at a time.

The Europe-wide surge in energy prices has had a serious impact in Romania with almost all commodities reflecting the increased costs of production and transport. Many households will lack the resilience to cope with the rising cost of domestic energy once the colder months arrive.

The majority of rural households, and many urban ones as well, still depend upon firewood for heating and, in many cases, for cooking too. Some public buildings such as village schools also rely on firewood for heating. As previously mentioned, EU policies designed to protect the natural forests have made firewood both expensive and difficult to acquire legally. Nevertheless, specific sponsorship has enabled us to obtain a limited supply which we will be sharing with the most needy families.

In late November another load was been dispatched, combining the efforts of our Swansea and Horley teams. The use of pre-packed pallets simplifies the logistics of assembling the load prior to export, but the ease of documentation and handling has to be offset against a reduction in the quantity of goods in each load, when compared with loose-loading.

This month’s featured photos

• Family Support
• Home Improvements
• Food and Warmth

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.

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, November 2021

A load has been dispatched from the Swansea warehouse and preparations are well in hand for a second load to be dispatched from Billingshurst in the near future. This load will be a joint venture between the English and Welsh teams; we expect to send it in early December. The procedures for sending aid seem to have stabilised now and we anticipate more frequent loads next year. It is good to hear that the stocks are building up again in our warehouses, and we trust that any new anti-Covid restrictions will not compromise our ability to pack items and load lorries.

RoAF is one of the charities supported by this year’s Harvest service at Horley Baptist Church. We are grateful for the donations received and for an opportunity to publicise the ongoing needs in Romania.

RoAF is not actively promoting the Christmas gift box scheme this year as 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 can accept a limited number of boxes specifically for named persons; they need to be with us by mid-November before the departure of the next lorry.

Romania continues to be in the grip of the COVID pandemic. Official figures published at the end of October showed an infection rate of 10·6 per 1,000 residents (the UK equivalent was shown as 8·5). These are national figures; areas of greater population density are generally higher. There is widespread scepticism about vaccines and, in the absence of a stable government, it is left to local authorities to enforce such restrictions as they think appropriate. Additionally, the concentration on COVID has diverted resources from treating other health conditions. Several people known personally to members of the AN team have died recently.

In addition to the health crisis, Romania is experiencing severe economic problems. Food is plentiful after the harvest but it is becoming increasingly expensive, with some items now costing 50% more than last year. Energy prices are out of control and unemployment is rising. These factors combine to ensure that there is no shortage of people asking AN for help. We are grateful for the loads received recently and are in a good position to help people with clothing and other household essentials. We can offer food including rice sent by the team in Wales and other food items acquired locally but firewood – essential for most rural households – has become difficult to obtain legally.

Not surprisingly, there are many requests for financial assistance. Items for donation remain free of taxes but items that are intended for the shop now incur an import duty. This, together with increases in AN’s own operating costs, means that our ability to help is very limited.

Update for our Knitters, November 2021: Please could you prioritise knitted blankets, including the ones that are made from small squares, for the next year or so. We would like the squares to be knitted together into practical blanket sizes as it is no longer practical for this to be done in Dorohoi. Please continue with scarves and hats for adults as well.

This month’s featured photos

• A Load from Swansea
• Preparing the Next Load
• Knitting from Hull Knitwits

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, October 2021

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

Following a satisfactory delivery to Romania and the lifting of many COVID restrictions in the UK the Horley team has been able to resume our Friday afternoon sessions at Horley Baptist Church and the Saturday activities at our Billingshurst warehouse. Some precautions may still apply, at least for the immediate future, including the number of people that can meet in the church building. There have been some revisions to the type of items that we can accept at present in order to comply with current import limitations – details on our website.

July was a quiet month for donations but once the lorry arrived mid-month the rate of donations has returned to a more normal level. There were some 180 separate donations during August, many of which consist of more than one item. The most popular items are clothing, footwear, toys and, when available, food. We have been able to help a number of elderly people with crutches but there is a shortage of zimmer frames at present.

Anti-COVID restrictions have been relaxed somewhat, at least for the time being, and in most situations the use of masks and sanitizers is a personal choice. However, in the office we have continued to retain a high level of social distancing – the current weather allows us to ask visitors to wait outside and their goods are passed across the office threshold. This policy will have to be reviewed once the inclement winter weather returns. There is some official concern about a resurgence of COVID as the new school year begins and it remains to be seen whether there will be a re-introduction of health measures during the late autumn.

Once again we have received donations of both food and furniture from local sources. We are happy to use our team’s experience to distribute these items in a way that the original donors cannot do.

At Casa Neemia, the polytunnel has again produced a bountiful crop of tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables. These will be preserved as in previous years and will supplement the residents’ diet during the winter. We anticipate a good crop of potatoes from the land there and the sunflower crop at the warehouse also looks promising. The seeds will be pressed and the oil donated to our regular families later in the year.

This month’s photos feature Warehouse Activities

• Unloading packed boxes
• Weighing and labelling
• Stacking pallets ready for loading

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, August 2021

We were very relieved to receive a truck-load of aid from Billingshurst in the middle of last month. The customs procedures were more complex than in previous years but not overly onerous. We have also received approval to receive similar loads, at least until the end of this year.

The load arrived on the day that our stock of summer clothing was finally exhausted. Ironically, we still have supplies of winter clothing but that is not suitable for summer conditions. We are grateful for the timing of the delivery, and it was not long before items from this load were appearing on the donation records.

We continue to make donations from the office, albeit in smaller quantities and under the social distancing restrictions that still apply. People still need to be clothed and be fed, and there are many households who have had difficulties doing so during the pandemic. We have been able to maintain some level of donations throughout this period without lorries through a combination of locally sourced items and sponsorship for food purchases; we are grateful to those who made that possible.

This has been a long period of extra stain on our staff. Although none of them has had COVID itself, there has been an impact though friends and family, and due to the additional work that has been asked of them. This has tended to exacerbate other health problems, and we need to find some way in which they can step back a little from time to time.

Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to Richard and those who worked with him for all that they have done for people in this area. It is some 30 years since the activities that evolved into RoAF and AN began. Encouraged by many supporters, Richard Burgess and Jon Norman drove a small truck load of aid to post-revolution Romania, intending it as a ‘one-off’ venture. What they saw fueled a desire to continue to help. In due course Richard bought his own truck and made aid trips four or five times a year, as well as helping in many needy situations. Finally Richard has hung up the keys to his truck – his dynamism and drive will be missed. We trust that he will have a long and happy retirement – although watching the sunset from a rocking chair on the porch probably isn’t his style.

This month’s featured photos

• A Welcome Arrival
• Richard in Action
• .

Last month’s performance statistics

These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month (pending update).

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, July 2021

Progress towards the resumption of aid preparation and transport has been made on two fronts:
> the Horley team has received consent to resume Friday packing at Horley Baptist Church although we cannot start until after the first load leaves and there is space in the warehouse;
> following the receipt of approvals from the Romanian customs to send aid items an application has been submitted for the necessary UK export documents.

In south Wales, some 500 boxes are awaiting the outcome of the first load; hopefully this will clarify any need for repacking or relabelling them. Both teams have many helpers and donors wishing to unload their homes of accumulated items, and we look forward to re-establishing our collecting and packing activities.

We have finally received the approval from the customs authorities to resume the import of humanitarian aid. We understand that this is a general approval and would allow us to resume deliveries for the rest of the year but it is unclear whether a detailed inventory will have to be submitted with each load. Certain items are excluded from the permit, the most significant being coffee and tea!

Last month there was a substantial reduction in the quantity of aid being donated from the office. This category of donations includes clothing, food, household goods and certain medical items. This reduction reflects a shortage of clothing suitable for the summer season and the easier availability of food in the local markets. However, we have continued to be busy, with distributing other items such as mobility aids, home improvement items like doors, paint and furniture, and produce from our own cultivated land.

Our land at the warehouse and at Casa Neemia looks set to produce good crops again this year, thanks to the warm winter and wet spring. We have already harvested some vegetables and fruit, and some residents at Casa Neemia have been busily involved in this.

We used this relatively quiet period to have some refurbishment work done on the van, including bodywork, suspension and a new coat of paint. It really does look very smart (the pictures below were taken before the refurbishment) and we are grateful to those who undertook this work at a very charitable cost.

This month’s featured photos

• Working the land
• Fruit and vegetables
• The AN van

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, June 2021