Despite demands elsewhere we have continued to receive an ample supply of clothing, footwear and household items. Inspecting and packing these items before dispatch keeps our small but loyal team busy and there are many people in Romania who are grateful for their efforts.
The Romanian government has recently acknowledged an inflation rate of some 9·9%. This contravenes the fiscal rules that link the Romanian currency to the Euro and consequently the exchange rate has risen in an unprecedented way. This has had an adverse impact on prices of food (much of which is imported) and makes life more difficult for many people. Ironically, the rapid rises in food prices also tend to increase the amount of food that remains unsold.
We have continued to receive short-dated food and other items from two local supermarkets. During April the shelf value of the food that we received amounted to the equivalent of some £9,500. This food has to be distributed and the donations documented within 24 hours, which keeps our team busy. One member of the AN team is occupied full-time with dealing with those who come to the office and maintaining the necessary records; he is assisted on a part-time basis by another team member and a local volunteer who make up the donations from the available stocks.
As part of the discussions concerning the land at the warehouse we need to obtain an up-to-date definition of the dimensions of the our land, including the additional “no-man’s-land” that we acquired when the land was purchased. There is an official procedure for mapping land ownership and occupancy which can be undertaken by the county surveyor but this is currently likely to take more than a year. An alternative is to employ an independent registered surveyor but there would be cost implications.
We have taken some of last year’s crop of sunflower seeds to be pressed for cooking oil; 12 sacks of seeds produced about 45 litres, which will be bottled and donated as part of our usual food distribution. A new planting season has begun; a local farmer has seeded the land again this and residents have Casa Neemia have been involved in maintaining our land at the warehouse and at Casa Neemia. However, planting in the polytunnel has been delayed due to wind damage during the winter.
This Month’s Featured Photos
Incoming donations: plenty to do … a loyal team … at the weigh-in
The new planting season: seeding the land … trimming the orchard … planting potatoes
This Month’s Prayer Notes
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Link to this month’s Prayer Notes
