Romania Trip
My Visit to Romania
By Lyn Jenkins
As most of you know, I once again
went out to Romania in December to deliver the Christmas shoeboxes, some of which
were donated by yourselves – it seems a long time ago now! This was my sixth
trip. I have been out on four occasions to deliver the Christmas shoeboxes, once
in the Spring/Summer to deliver Family boxes and once to help decorate the Foundations
for Life Centre. The charity have created this Centre for youngsters who graduate
from school, to learn life training skills like sewing, woodwork, arts and crafts,
cooking, music, computing etc.
The volunteers pay their own way and no money is deducted for administrative purposes.
Because we personally deliver the items, I can guarantee to people who support the
cause that the shoeboxes definitely get to the children.
This year, we collected 910 shoeboxes in Poole and put together 46 Family boxes.
For families, we also collected 46 items such as duvets and bedspreads. To give
to new mothers, we put together 38 Baby boxes containing a selection of everything
a new-born baby needs. For the Foundation for Life Centre, we collected 71 boxes
of items (material and wool, arts and crafts materials, tools for the woodwork room,
musical instruments and kitchen items, to name but a few). In fact, there were so
many items that, although everything fitted in the van taking it from Poole to Biggin
Hill, once it got to Biggin Hill it wouldn’t all fit on the lorry to take to Romania.
Unfortunately, because of the costs and the fact that one of the drivers who previously
drove the lorry to Romania had died of cancer this year, the lorry had to be shared
with another charity, so there was less space available. What didn’t fit on is still
in Biggin Hill and will be taken over in the Spring/Summer.
In addition to all the items mentioned, we raised a total of £6187.18 last year
through various fund raising activities. There was a lot of baking cakes for a cake
stall and selling them in Barclays House, or in Wimborne St Giles, and for every
£ raised Barclays donated a £.
We made a good start this year, with the camera club donating the proceeds of its
first raffle to the charity – all prizes were donated and, thanks to the generosity
of the members, we raised £86, which was fantastic.
It is very rewarding supporting the charity and being able to go out there and see
the difference we can make. The children recognise us and our being there brightens
up their lives. Seeing their faces as they undo their shoeboxes makes it all worthwhile.
You can see from the photo the pleasure it gives. On this last visit, we decorated
the hall in the Foundations for Life Centre and put up an artificial Christmas tree
– the look on the children’s faces as they saw it brought a tear to our eyes. We
are so lucky in this country and take so much for granted.
At the moment, we are collecting for the Family boxes. I have included a form detailing
the items so, if anyone has anything in good condition that is surplus to requirements
or would like to donate something, it would be gratefully received. Also, if anyone
has any material, wool, arts and crafts materials they no longer need, they would
be put to good use in the Centre. Even the window cutouts from where you mount your
photos on the Daler board would be welcome!
Finally, I just want to say a BIG thank you to all of you in the club who have helped
with support and donations – it is really appreciated by me, the charity and the
children/people in Romania.
If you are interested in finding out more details, check out www.foundationsforlife.co.uk.
If you would like to put a family box together download the form here
Lyn Jenkins.