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The Romanian Aid Foundation Newsletter

Spring  2004

 

  

 

The work continues

At the end of February RoAF was able to send an 'extra' lorry with 11 tons of clothing. The Romanian team has been asking for this clothing in order to help people during the winter - a time when the needs are greatest but supplies in Dorohoi are often very low. We used a Romanian commercial carrier for this delivery, and thanks are due to those who helped to prepare the clothing in time and to those who contributed to the extra costs. Beni's report below was written before the lorry arrived in Romania but he has since reported that the consignment was just what they needed.

We expect to send the usual 2 lorries in the spring. The plan is for them to depart on 23rd April, with loading earlier that week. Anybody who is able to help will be welcome.

  

Our newsletters

Over the past ten years we have prepared a series of newsletters to keep our supporters informed about the work that we are doing. We have discussed the merits of switching to an electronic distribution via email, but we feel that it does not have the same impact as the printed page, and there are many people who are not wired for email.

The newsletter mailing list has now passed the 400 mark, with another 150 given out through churches and other groups. Whilst we are delighted that so many people have been interested in our work, we do recognise that people's interests change and that some people might want to be removed from the list. Similarly there are some cases where the address details are no longer accurate and the newsletters are not reaching the right people. Consequently, we would like you to confirm your address details if you wish to continue to receive news from RoAF. You can use the response form on the info page, leave a phone message or email us. Those whom we do not hear from during this year will be removed from our mailing list.

  

Focus - The warehouse in Dorohoi:

Commonly known by the Romanian word for warehouse, the 'depozit' in Dorohoi has become an essential tool in the process of distributing aid in Dorohoi. During the early years of our work in Dorohoi it was necessary to borrow or hire storage space whilst the aid was being distributed. This incurred costs and security risks, which in turn meant that the aid was distributed as quickly as possible, usually through third parties, without us getting any feedback from the recipients. The purchase of permanent premises has enabled the aid distribution to become more consistent and year-round, with much more direct benefit for the people who need help.

The depozit is located some 3 miles south of the centre of Dorohoi on the road to Botosani, in the area known as Dealu Mare. Originally on the edge of town, this area is a developing suburb that is becoming increasingly popular for building residential properties. The single storey building comprises three main storage rooms, some utility space and a parking area that can accommodate up to 4 articulated lorries. The property also has approximately 2 acres of land that each year is used for growing crops such as corn or potatoes for donation.

Since acquiring the property, Asociatia Neemia has added another storage room, replaced the windows, installed mains electricity and heating by wood stove. The floors have been relaid and our warehouseman, Iulian, has fabricated some steel doors to replace the older wooden ones. The parking area was resurfaced with gravel, courtesy of an Italian road contractor who borrowed the space whilst working in the vicinity.

However, despite its usefulness, all is not well with the warehouse. The flat asphalt roof has suffered some localised but severe damage, due primarily to the high snowfalls in this area. It is not uncommon to have drifts of several feet in depth due to the lack of windbreaks. Conversely, summer temperatures exceeding 40C has also caused the asphalt to degrade.. AN has also been asked to tidy the building to make it more in keeping with the residential nature of much of the new development

The repair work is expected to take place in September, prior to the onset of next winter. It will cost about £7,000 to replace the roof, incorporate extra storage space, and re

 

An impression of the extended warehouse, drawn by Steve Turner

 

 

Beni writes from Dorohoi:

It is a long time since I last wrote a report about the work here. I know that through Peter and Lesley you still have been updated but I still want to write and to ensure you that the work here has continued in all these winter months and we continued to help so many people. We had clothes, soap, crockery, toys, food to give to families but we finished the clothes this week from the warehouse for shop and families.

We managed to donate all the gift boxes before Christmas, to families that were registered and others that we considered, and also to a few churches from villages.

It has been a cold month with a lot of snow, which made life very hard for many people. Our help offered to people was a really blessing, as many people didn't have anything to eat. We had in all this time tins of beans and oil, and now we have some corn flour to give them. Every morning at the office door more than 40 people are waiting for me to bring tins of beans from the warehouse; I think there are many people whose main food are the beans we give them. We still have beans in the warehouse for another month and some corn flour to give to families.

We also helped many families with money for heating, medicine, etc from sponsors’ funds; families who couldn't afford to pay and we were the only hope and support that left for them.

Many things from the warehouse that we had for disposal have been given out from the warehouse and the warehouse is quite empty. It would be very good if there will be sent a transport of clothes, toys, crockery and bedding to Dorohoi this month because we have registered many families to help them and also the shop is out of stock. [Another 11 tons of aid has been sent to Dorohoi since this was written] However, the roof of the warehouse is very damaged by the water and snow which has been a lot this winter and is coming through a lot of water.

The shop has done very well these months and this was because we had things to put for sell and we tried to put new things in every week. We have bought a gas heater for the shop last month, which is efficient and it helped a lot. We managed to heat the shop well this winter, only that the electricity bill is very big this month. Also in January the rent of the shop was switched from Dollars to Euros - an effective increase of 18%.

I thank God for all He has done for us and for all He provides as blessing for the people here. I want to thank you again for your hard work and for all you do for Romania.

With love in Christ,     Beni

 

 

Romanian Aid (Northern Ireland)

The newsletter also contains an introduction to the new group that has been formed in Northern Ireland.  Romanian Aid (NI) can be contacted via Colin Reid by email rani_@_roaf.org .

 

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This newsletter is published on behalf of the Romanian Aid Foundation and Asociatia Neemia.  For further information or to be added to the newsletter mailing list please use our response page or write to us using the contact details below: 

The Romanian Aid Foundation

179 Albert Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 7HS, UK; 

email: info_@_roaf.org

The Romanian Aid Foundation is a UK Registered Charity No. 1060828. 

 

Asociatia Neemia

Str Spiru Haret nr 9, Dorohoi, Botosani 6850, Romania.  

Telephone 0231 610059; email: Beni_@_roaf.org 

 

 

This newsletter is  © Romanian Aid Foundation, April 2004.  Link to previous newsletter:  Autumn  2003

 

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