The need to comply with social distancing and health protection measures means that the preparation of our news updates has been adversely affected; in particular in the number of photos that we can take and in keeping up-to-date with our donation statistics. Normal service with be resumed – but when?
Current restrictions mean that we will not be able to resume person-to-person activities in Horley and Billingshurst such as collections and packing whilst they are in force. This also means that we cannot resume warehouse activities in Billingshurst. Restarting later in February will be dependent upon restrictions in force at that time.
Activities in south Wales are similarly subject to local restrictions.
Click here for the current UK news.
2020 may have gone but its effects will continue to be felt for some time to come. Many people doing “non-essential” jobs have found their income has shrunk dramatically but at the same time there have been some very significant rises in the cost of living.
Despite the difficulties, the AN team has continued to function and has provided help to needy people in this area. In 2020 as a whole, we made some 3,200 donations of clothing and other goods to 950 separate households. These donations had a total UK equivalent value of £56,000. These donations have included a variety of primarily food items which have been obtained locally. These opportunities for co-operation with other local organisations have meant that we have not been wholly dependent upon deliveries from the UK.
Financial assistance has continued but on a very limited scale as the income from the shop is also very low and we can help only the most deserving of cases. Extra sponsorship from the UK has been received for specific families and for general expenditure, and we are very grateful for this help.
This month’s featured photos
- A gift of happiness
- A gift of essentials
- A gift of warmth
- Christmas gifts
–
–
Photo Gallery: Click on any of the photos for enlargements, more details or similar photos.
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | December 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 25 / 124 | 26 / 96 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 351 | 415 | 79% |
| Number of Donations: | 744 | 416 | -15% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 5,828 | 8,263 | -29% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·3779 | 5·6352 | -5% |
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 2020
News from Asociatia Neemia, December 2020
The chilly winter weather that, in a normal year, we would have expected a month ago has now arrived. As we all know, this has not been a normal year and many of our usual activities have had to be stopped or modified to meet the changing health advice. Nevertheless, our core team has managed to continued to provide help to the most needy in Dorohoi and areas further afield.
We are very grateful for an unexpected part-load from the south Wales team. It was a new experience for them to use a commercial carrier rather than Richard’s dedicated trailer, but it has turned out well. This load comprised eight pallets of clothing plus some other items, and is a helpful addition to our winter stocks. We anticipate one more load, from Billingshurst, before Christmas – that, of course, is subject to the vagaries of the weather and any restrictions on loading activities.
The stock in the shop has finally been changed from items suitable for autumn to those required for winter. At present, the shop is allowed to keep trading and provides an essential trickle of income for us.
The colder weather has brought an increase in the number of requests for firewood and we have been able to help several families in this way. Several young men from Casa Neemia have kept themselves warm by helping to prepare and deliver the firewood.
We understand that the number of Christmas gift boxes will be much lower than normal. This will place additional pressures on those who have to decide who will receive them – not an easy task when supplies have been much more generous in previous years and expectations may not be met.
We have had an urgent appeal for redundant smart phones. Many school children in rural areas do not have access to suitable equipment to receive their lessons online. If you have upgraded your smart phone then please consider donating the old one – they need to be in good working order, and be capable of running educational apps but we do not need the SIM cards. Please make sure that all personal data has been removed!
The need to comply with social distancing and health protection measures means that the preparation of our news updates has been adversely affected; in particular in the number of photos that we can take and in keeping up-to-date with our donation statistics. Normal service with be resumed – but when?
This month’s featured photos
- Maize from our land to be milled into flour for donation
- Donations of firewood
- Unloading, 25/Nov/2020
Photo Gallery: Click on any of the photos for enlargements, more details or similar photos.
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | November 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 20 / 48 | 23 / 71 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 186 | 242 | 36% |
| Number of Donations: | 400 | 294 | -23% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 4,560 | 8,496 | -46% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·4339 | 5·5567 | -2% |
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 2020
News from Asociatia Neemia, November 2020
As a consequence of the lockdown restrictions announced for England this week all sorting and packing activities by the Horley team have been suspended including the Saturday packing at the Billingshurst warehouse and the use of the clothing deposit boxes. Activities are expected to resume in the new year.
The return of colder wet weather, coupled with a widespread laxity about spreading diseases in general has meant an increase in the numbers of infections in this area. The usual seasonal ailments have returned but COVID remains the most serious. Priests, medics, teachers, local leaders – no group seems to be without its victims.
In addition to the demands on medical services we can also see strains on commercial and family life. For those for whom life was difficult previously, the onset of winter only adds to their problems. Rising prices for food and fuel can leave families defaulting on their bills whilst, at the same time, the reductions in AN’s resources mean that we cannot help as many as we might previously have done. Nevertheless, we have been able to acquire some food and firewood from local sources and together with the food and clothing from the UK we have been able to limit the number of people who leave our office empty-handed.
The maize harvest this year has been of poor quality. The growing season started with a drought and remained dry almost until the time for harvest. This maize will not produce good quality flour and the crop will be used mainly for feeding cattle and domestic fowl.
In past years we have received, typically, nine loads of aid. So far this year we have received only four and it now seems possible that there may be no more until next Spring. In this context we are extremely grateful for the load which arrived from south Wales at the end of October. This will supplement our stock of warm clothing and bedding that we are able to distribute from the office. At this time of year, too, the stocks of knitted garments and blankets prove to be well appreciated and we pass on our gratitude to those whose dexterity has brought comfort to those in need.
The need to comply with social distancing and health protection measures means that the preparation of our news updates has been adversely affected; in particular in the number of photos that we can take and in keeping up-to-date with our donation statistics. Normal service with be resumed – but when?
This month’s featured photos
- October’s load
- Warm clothing and knitwear stocks replenished
- The maize harvest
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | October 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 21 / 47 | 21 / 63 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 205 | 202 | -9% |
| Number of Donations: | 233 | 255 | 1% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 4,282 | 6,694 | -36% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·3757 | 5·4320 | -1% |
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 2020
News from Asociatia Neemia, October 2020
The load which was ready to go in March left the warehouse in south Wales on 18th sept. and arrived in Dorohoi the following week. These are times of change and uncertainty but we trust that 2021 will bring more order to our desire to help the needy of this part of Romania.
The Horley team is still planning to send a pre-Christmas load in mid-November, subject to whatever restrictions apply at that time.
We are grateful to both Richard and Russ for their recent visits to Dorohoi, which have bought a fresh variety to the items that we have been able to offer to those who ask for help. Social contact restrictions are still very much in force and this has had an effect on how we can interact with those who come to the office. Visitors must remain outside (thankfully the weather still allows this) and they are served through the door. The necessary documentation is photographed, rather than being handled directly, and then the information is transcribed to our records. The face-to-face interviews with our social assistant have been suspended until such time as the current restrictions can be relaxed.
Funding from the UK has been used to replace the roof on the warehouse. We had hoped to do this earlier in the year but experienced workers were not available. The new roof uses a much more resistant material and should put an end to the need for strategically-placed drip trays on the upper floor.
Temperatures have remained higher than what is considered normal for this time of year but it is clear that winter is coming. A large proportion of rural houses are still heated with wood but firewood continues to become increasingly expensive and difficult to acquire. We have obtained a stock from a legitimate source and this will be shared with those families most in need. However, the restrictions also mean that it is extremely difficult to find someone to actually cut the wood!
The need to comply with social distancing and health protection measures means that the preparation of our news updates has been adversely affected; in particular in the number of photos that we can take and in keeping up-to-date with our donation statistics. Normal service with be resumed – but when?
This month’s featured photos
- Warm clothing
- Firewood
- Weather-proof roof
– 
– 
Photo Gallery: Click on any of the photos for enlargements, more details or similar photos.
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | September 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 29 / 28 | 12 / 43 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 217 | 150 | 58% |
| Number of Donations: | 270 | 171 | 45% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 4,854 | 4,419 | 10% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·3411 | 5·3129 | 1% |
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.
News from Asociatia Neemia, September 2020
The Horley team completed a very a productive month of sorting and packing whilst using the car park at Horley Baptist Church and our warehouse in Billingshurst. On 11th September we will return to our venue for packing and sorting inside Horley Baptist Church from 13:30 to 15:30 each Friday, but excluding 25th September and 4th December.
The Billingshurst warehouse will be open on Saturday mornings as normal. Location details for the warehouse are on our How to Donate page.
It is hoped to have a Christmas lorry ready for November. Please ensure your shoe boxes are with us by Saturday 7th November. If you send by post or parcel services you will have to check with your local depot about collections nearer the time you are ready. As actual shoe boxes are becoming very difficult to obtain we can accept their contents in bulk form, for making up into gift parcels in Dorohoi.
AN has continued to operate with reduced staffing in the office and in the shop. The arrival of a lorry in mid July has allowed us to reduce, to a certain degree, our constraints on helping only the most needy families. We have been able to be a little more generous with giving out clothing and food, and have seen an increase in the numbers of people that we are able to help. In July we gave out goods with a local equivalent value of £3,100 in response to 186 requests for help. This compares with the corresponding figures of £7,900 and 232 for July 2019. In addition to the donation of regular stock we have been able to help with several special projects which have received specific funding from the UK.
September sees the start of the new school year although, as the day draws closer, there is less and less clarity as to how schools can operate whilst maintaining the safety of pupils and staff. We have again been able to supply a selection of stationery and other materials such as carpet tiles. These tiles have an added value in kindergartens this year as they can be used to define personal space for each child.
Other restrictions concerning social distancing and the wearing of masks in certain circumstances are still in force although they are being widely ignored. As a result, some parts of Romania are experiencing large increases in the numbers of COVID cases, although our area area is not one of the hot-spots. This in turn has meant that countries such as Austria and Hungary are introducing restrictions on the movements of foreigners. As these are countries through which our lorries must pass there is still some doubt about our lorry delivery programme for the rest of the year.
The need to comply with social distancing and health protection measures means that the preparation of our news updates has been adversely affected; in particular in the number of photos that we can take and in keeping up-to-date with our donation statistics. Normal service with be resumed – but when?
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | August 2020 |
Same month last year | % Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 16 / 41 | 18 / 42 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 173 | 192 | 4% |
| Number of Donations: | 224 | 216 | -10% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 5,031 | 6,972 | -28% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·3703 | 5·1660 | 4% |
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 2020
News from Asociatia Neemia, August 2020
The Horley team, whilst under lock-down rules, have managed to load and dispatch a full articulated lorry from Billingshurst to Dorohoi, all whilst keeping safe and using a small invited team. The warehouse in Billingshurst is now empty. With this is mind and still under certain safety measures we will be receiving aid items in the car park of Horley Baptist Church, during Fridays from 31st July and each Friday in August. It is hoped that we may restart our regular packing sessions at Horley Baptist Church in September. Most of our team in Horley are of a mature age. However, all would love to get back sorting and packing as before.
The Billingshurst warehouse will be open on Saturday mornings during August and then as normal thereafter. Because of an issue with the key box it is no longer possible to drop off items there other than Saturday mornings. The code is changed and will not be available to unauthorised persons. Location details for the warehouse are on our How to Donate page.
It is hoped to have a Christmas lorry ready for November. Please ensure your shoe boxes are with us by Saturday 7th November. If you send by post or parcel services you will have to check with your local depot about collections nearer the time you are ready.
In south Wales the lock-down restrictions had the result of severely restricting movement, so that for weeks and weeks nothing was received. However, for the last 6 weeks materials have been trickling in and, subject to local restrictions, it is back to normal. We anticipate that the numbers of Joy in the Box contributions (due later in the year) may be down this year. Actual shoe boxes are becoming very difficult to obtain so we can accept their contents in bulk form, for making up into gift parcels in Dorohoi.
Once again this month in Dorohoi we have been able to continue to help our most needy families, with a limited range of clothing and some household items. With the help of local contacts we have also been able to obtain some food items such as potatoes, margarine and UHT milk, for sharing with them. The arrival of the lorry on 16th July was a great blessing, we were able to start distributing its contents immediately. Loads of thanks to all those involved.
In this area there was very little precipitation during the winter and rainfall during the spring and summer has been erratic, with some areas flooded and others in near-drought conditions. This has had an adverse effect on the quality and quantity of crops.
The start of the traditional holiday period and the hot summer temperatures have encouraged wise-spread non-compliance with social distancing rules. Whilst we maintain the required measures at the office and shop, our staff are at increased risk whilst out and about.
This month’s featured photos
- A great effort
- A generous donation
- A disappointing harvest
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | July 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 14 / 49 | 32 / 40 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 159 | 203 | -20% |
| Number of Donations: | 186 | 232 | -22% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 3,110 | 7,963 | -61% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·3468 | 5·2610 | 2% |
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 2020
News from Asociatia Neemia, July 2020
The Horley team is planning to send a lorry on 11th July. This will, of course, be dependent upon the prevailing restrictions on the number of people that can help with the loading and also upon a judgement by our transport contractor about the conditions governing the international haulage of this type of goods.
Our stocks of summer clothing that were inappropriate for winter distribution are now proving their worth as we have been able to continue to donate some clothing to those who are the most needy here. As mentioned previously, the depletion of stocks has allowed us to undertake a lot of repair and maintenance work at the warehouse. We now have an opportunity to do a more realistic stock take rather than the estimates that have been necessary in previous years. Nevertheless, we look forward to the arrival of a new load, hopefully during the next two weeks.
The very popular donations of oil and rice from Wales have all been shared out, as has the food that we received from Horley. As an interim arrangement we have been able to obtain a limited range of locally sourced food items, some as donations, others at reduced cost. This has allowed us to continue to provide help to the most needy families and individuals. The procedures for donations at the office continue to respect the distancing rules that Romania still has in place.
Most schools and kindergartens have been closed since March and teachers have been conducting classes online. However, many families do not have access to the necessary technology or materials so now, with a partial relaxation of distancing rules and better weather, some teachers are providing catch-up classes. We have been able to provide stationery, craft materials, some outdoor toys and furniture so that classes can be held in the school grounds.
Summer camps such as that at Voronet have not been able to open as yet this year so it now seems very unlikely that we will be able to organise a camp holiday this summer.
This month’s featured photos
- Renovations at the warehouse
- Donations comply with distancing recommendations
- Help for Kindergartens
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | June 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 11 / 39 | 20 / 51 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 133 | 149 | -5% |
| Number of Donations: | 159 | 168 | -11% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 3,893 | 5,488 | -29% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·3779 | 5·3077 | 1% |
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 2020
News from Asociatia Neemia, June 2020
The information given in this page was correct at the time of preparation. However, in the current circumstances, regulations and activities can change on a daily basis and it is not possible to keep these pages entirely up to date. Please refer to our “Please Note” page for the latest information.
In the UK all activities involving person-to-person contact including packing and transport have been suspended during the present crisis:
– Friday packing sessions are suspended;
– Normal warehouse activities are suspended;
– Team meetings are moving to digital media;
– Lorry departures are postponed.
The monthly Prayer Notes and the websites will continue to be published as normal.
You can keep up to date via our website link above.
RoAF has provided funding to enable Beni to take the opportunity of a relatively empty warehouse to do some redecoration there, and also funds to facilitate the repair of the warehouse roof before the winter. This latter work will require craftsmen with appropriate skills, many of whom are currently unable to work officially.
The work of AN has not stopped during this period of emergency. We did reduce the hours of work, but we kept the office and shop open. Some clouds have silver linings! We have been able to use this opportunity when we have limited stocks in the warehouse to re-organise the way in which items are stored there and to dispose of articles that no longer have any prospect of being useful. Thanks to funding from the UK we are able to do some repairs and redecorating, with some of our beneficiaries and Casa Neemia residents helping with that work.
We have been able to keep the shop open with limited hours. Many of our usual customers are reluctant to spend much at present so we have kept the prices at ‘sales’ level. The shop has continued to cover its costs but it is not able to contribute much to the other activities of the charity.
Laurentiu and Gabriela have continued to prepare items for needy families, within the constraints of limited stocks. The office premises are closed to visitors and donations are made in accordance with the contact restrictions that are currently in place.
After many months of near-drought (and minimal winter snow) we now have had two weeks of more regular rainfall. Our crops at the warehouse and at Casa Neemia have benefited from this rain but below the top level much of the soil remains very dry. This suggests that the final quality of the crops will not be of the standard of previous years. As mentioned last month, we have been able to acquire some food stocks locally, at discounted prices, and have been able to distribute them to our families.
Restrictions on movements and gatherings mean that it is not possible to have the children’s camp at Voronet this month. We are looking at options later in the summer but it seems highly likely that there will be no camp this year. This will be a major disappointment for the children who had been looking forward to their annual holiday in the mountains.
This month’s featured photos
- Renovations at the warehouse
- A season for new life
- Diligent gardeners at Casa Neemia
Photo Gallery: Click on any of the photos for enlargements, more details or similar photos.
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | May 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 11 / 31 | 19 / 58 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 114 | 164 | -30% |
| Number of Donations: | 129 | 183 | -30% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 4,638 | 5,586 | -17% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·4617 | 5·4667 | 0% |
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, May 2020
News from Asociatia Neemia, May 2020
The information given in this page was correct at the time of preparation. However, in the current circumstances, regulations and activities can change on a daily basis and it is not possible to keep these pages entirely up to date. Please refer to our “Please Note” page for the latest information.
In the UK all activities involving person-to-person contact including packing and transport have been suspended during the present crisis:
– Friday packing sessions are suspended;
– Normal warehouse activities are suspended;
– Team meetings are moving to digital media;
– Lorry departures are postponed.
The monthly Prayer Notes and the websites will continue to be published as normal.
You can keep up to date via our website link above.
Most of our activities in the UK are undertaken by pensioners which means that we are at a standstill pending the lifting of the restrictions on the movement of older people. However, individuals are able to continue some activities such as knitting or preparing items on a single person basis although we are not as yet able to collect and pack any items.
The work of AN has not stopped during this period of emergency. We did reduce the hours of work, but we kept the office and shop open. During the first part from this emergency period very few people were coming to the office to ask for help; the same at the shop, very few customers, but in the last week a lot of people came especially to the office.
We have some stock of clothes in the office that we are able to donate straight away. We were able to buy some bulk food like pizza, yogurt and ice cream at a very convenient price. We also bought a chest freezer where we keep the food and are able to donate it to families and Casa Neemia. At Casa Neemia the boys (most of them are isolated) have been helpful working and seeding the garden, but struggling to cope with one another after being all together there for long time.
In the warehouse we have left some summer boxes for the shop (not many) but the stock is mainly winter items – blue fleeces (Shoe Zone), and some white duvets and knitted items. This year we seeded the land at the warehouse with maize, which will be milled into flour in the autumn. We estimate that in this circumstances, without receiving a lorry with goods we may cope till middle of June (office and shop).
This month’s featured photos
- Preparing for the new growing season
- Pizza and Ice-cream
- Masks are in fashion
Photo Gallery: Click on any of the photos for enlargements, more details or similar photos.
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | April 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 9 / 33 | 17 / 43 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 89 | 182 | -49% |
| Number of Donations: | 105 | 207 | -51% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 2,062 | 6,254 | -67% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·5208 | 5·5160 | 0% |
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, April 2020
News from Asociatia Neemia, April 2020
The information given in this page was correct at the time of preparation. However, in the current circumstances, regulations and activities can change on a daily basis and it is not possible to keep these pages entirely up to date. Please refer to our “Please Note” page for the latest information.
In the UK all activities involving person-to-person contact including packing and transport have been suspended during the present crisis:
– Friday packing sessions are suspended;
– Normal warehouse activities are suspended;
– Team meetings are moving to digital media;
– Lorry departures are postponed.
The monthly Prayer Notes and the websites will continue to be published as normal.
You can keep up to date via our website link above.
The clothing collection box at St Francis Church in Horley has been renovated. Our thanks to Jim for doing this and, of course, to all those who will make good use of the box once the restrictions are lifted. This box and the one at Billingshurst are still accessible for the deposit of clean, wrapped clothing. However, the collection routine is subject to disruption so please do not leave any items outside the boxes.
Spring has officially arrived in north-eastern Romania although it feels like it has been here for several months already. Trees and flowers that should be starting to produce buds are well advanced. However, the absence of a proper winter has its downsides. Snow which would have melted slowly into the soil has been replaced by rain which runs off into ditches and this may compromise this year’s crops. In a normal year the arrival of Spring would bring increased opportunities for employment in construction and agriculture. This year the situation is very different, with local residents competing with those who have returned from abroad.
A nation-wide curfew means that activities are now very limited. The office remains open, with reduced hours; the numbers of those asking for help is lower than normal and we are having to ration the amount of food that we can give. We are unable to provide any cash help at present. The shop is still open, but again with limited hours. At present it is covering its staff costs but little else. At the warehouse we still have good stocks of clothing and bedding, and knitwear suitable for the elderly and very young. We do have a quantity of gardening and DIY tools that we can give to those who can make use of them to help themselves.
The residents at Casa Neemia are confined to the premises and a strict hygiene regime has been introduced. We are able to supply daily meals for them and they are still able to work outside in the garden and polytunnel under certain conditions.
This month’s featured photos
- Refurbished drop-box in Horley
- Lunch at Casa Neemia
- Aid awaiting dispatch
Photo Gallery: Click on any of the photos for enlargements, more details or similar photos.
Last month’s performance statistics
These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
| Categories | March 2020 |
Same month last year |
% Change year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Beneficiaries: joiners / leavers | 17 / 41 | 13 / 52 | |
| Beneficiaries this month: | 156 | 176 | -4% |
| Number of Donations: | 183 | 190 | -11% |
| Total Value of Donations: (£ equivalent) | 3,992 | 6,925 | -42% |
| Exchange Rate, RON to GBP | 5·4128 | 5·5380 | -2% |
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.
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