The Romanian Aid Foundation & Asociatia Neemia

The AN team is now entering our busiest time of the year, which also coincides with the onset of bad weather and difficult working conditions. The main occupation is the checking, sorting and distribution of the Christmas shoeboxes. The giftboxes have to be inspected to check for the suitability of the contents for the age and gender of the intended recipient, and for a sufficient diversity in the contents. These are intended as Christmas gifts so toys and sweets need to be present alongside any other items and, of course, the box has to be reasonably full. A large box that is half-full will be disappointing even if its content amounts to more than that of a smaller well-packed box. Fortunately, many of the boxes come already inspected and well-labelled and we are extremely grateful for that. For the rest, we have stocks of sweets, toys and stationery that can be used to supplement the donated contents.

Shoeboxes are distributed to children in kindergartens and churches, and to our registered needy families and individuals. Many of the families will come to the office for boxes and it is necessary to be wary of excessive or duplicated demands. Representatives from kindergartens and churches will submit requests for a certain number of boxes but since there is rarely enough to satisfy everybody we need to exercise a degree of discretion in responding to these requests. Those who receive these boxes are grateful for the effort that goes into preparing them and despite the difficulties we are pleased to be able to help bring some joy into many lives at Christmas.

The final lorry for this year has arrived from Billingshurst but the work for the packing teams in the UK has not finished. Items continue to arrive and the teams resume their work as soon as each lorry leaves. However, they will be having a short break over the Christmas and New Year period, when they will renew their strength for the coming year’s activity. Our thanks are due to all those who have contributed to the 74 tons of clothing, food and other items that have been sent to Romania by our teams during this year.

This month’s featured photos

• Unloading Christmas boxes.
• Selecting boxes for families.
• Delivering to a rural house.

Last month’s performance statistics

These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
[table id=<7> /]

Stats notes:
– Joiners are new registrants this month, Leavers are are those whose latest recorded donation was 12 months ago.
– Value of stock includes items which have been used in AN projects but not yet written out of these accounts.
– Items marked as “?” are awaiting final returns for the month.

Previous month, November 2018

It was with shock and deep sorrow that we learnt of the death of Ruedi Buob aged 87. Ruedi and his wife Anna have been enthusiastic and generous supporters of RoAF’s activities since our earliest days. In addition to lending muscle when needed, Ruedi’s special skill was the packing of soft toys and games, and many a child in Romania is grateful for his efforts.

Despite the lingering warm weather the days are getting shorter and nights are cooler. The need to prepare for next growing season means that many people are moving about with large agricultural machinery and, by contrast, with horse-drawn carts, and this makes for additional road hazards during the dark mornings and evenings. We have been able to distribute yellow reflective jackets and these have already demonstrated their value in making people more visible.

We will be able to help more families this winter with food as well as clothing thanks to the donations received from regular and occasional sources. In addition to the now-familiar consignments of oil, rice, flour and sugar from a charity in Wales there is en-route a large amount of more general groceries which will be of particular value in the new year period when winter shortages are likely to be most severe. This food has been collected by schools, churches and individual donors, and we pass on the thanks of those who benefit from this generosity.

This year has been a good one for the growth of maize and our land at the AN warehouse has produced a good crop too. Many small-holders have the maize coarse-milled to provide food for their livestock but our crop will be milled to a finer flour which can be used for a variety of household recipes. There has also been an abundance of apples this year; we received a large quantity from a local grower and have been able to share them with visitors to our office.

This month’s featured photos

• Ruedi Buob, devoted allotment holder and RoAF supporter.
• Harvesting maize the traditional way.
• Food collection from local schools.

Last month’s performance statistics

These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
[table id=<8> /]

Stats notes:
– Joiners are new registrants this month, Leavers are are those whose latest recorded donation was 12 months ago.
– Value of stock includes items which have been used in AN projects but not yet written out of these accounts.
– Items marked as “?” are awaiting final returns for the month.

Previous month, October 2018

Summer is over (apart from the occasional flash-back), schools are back in session and the time left to prepare for the coming winter is passing quickly. Historically, Autumn can be quite short in northern Romania and already some areas have experienced frosts and even some snow. In rural areas the last of the crops are being gathered in, the firewood is being chopped and those who have the luxury of a winter wardrobe are giving it an airing. The comprehensive load which arrived recently included several tons of oil, rice, flour and sugar, plus a stock of fleeces and other clothing which will be available to address two of these needs. However, restrictions on the cutting of firewood are making it increasingly difficult to acquire legally and therefore more expensive. A typical retired couple in an old village house might use some 5 cu mtr of wood for cooking and heating during the winter, at a cost equivalent to two months’ pension.

For those following the progress of Isabela, the girl born with a severe heart defect, there is good news. An examination last month showed that the previous operations had been successful and that she has no need for further intervention. Her parents have described this as a miracle; many thanks to those who prayed for Isabela and supported her family.

Recently a young couple who had been living in poor quality rented accommodation had the opportunity to buy a flat for themselves. We have known them for a long time and were happy to help guide them through the negotiations and the legal procedures.

This month’s featured photos

• Oil, rice, sugar and flour from a charity in west Wales.
• Duvets and bedding ready for transport from Billingshurst.
• Chopping firewood warms you twice.

Last month’s performance statistics

These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
[table id=<9> /]

Stats notes:
– Joiners are new registrants this month, Leavers are are those whose latest recorded donation was 12 months ago.
– Value of stock includes items which have been used in AN projects but not yet written out of these accounts.
– Items marked as “?” are awaiting final returns for the month.

Previous month, September 2018

Maria Condrea has worked with Asociatia Neemia for some 17 years, acting as our office manager and undertaking the day-to-day practicalities of responding to those in need. She built up an encyclopedic knowledge of our beneficiaries and honed the ability to handle those whose demands exceed their fair entitlement. She has turned in her keys and is looking forward to a more relaxed retirement. We welcome Alexandra Ungureanu who has been Maria’s understudy for a couple of months and has shown herself to be a worthy successor.

School starts again in mid-September and now families are coming to ask for help. Officially, school is free but there are many obligations with regard to stationery and dress codes. AN has stocks of school bags, pens and paper for the children as well as suitable clothing. We also have craft materials, larger toys and furniture for donation to kindergartens.

Two fatal accidents in a period of seven days have deprived two families in the same community of their fathers and principal bread-winners. In the first case, a man returning from working in Italy fell asleep just a few miles from home; his car left the road, hit a tree and overturned. In the second, a local man was bringing in the last of the harvest when the tractor he was driving rolled over and he was crushed by the cabin. Romania has a poor road safety record – often considered to be the worst in Europe – and accidents such as these are a daily feature of the national news broadcasts.

This month’s featured photos

• Maria Condrea
• Alexandra Ungureanu
• Craig Buchanan

Last month’s performance statistics

These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
[table id=<10> /]

Stats notes:
– Joiners are new registrants this month, Leavers are are those whose latest recorded donation was 12 months ago.
– Value of stock includes items which have been used in AN projects but not yet written out of these accounts.
– Items marked as “?” are awaiting final returns for the month.

Previous month, August 2018

Unlike much of the rest of Europe, this area of Romania has been experiencing above-average rainfall. We have not yet had the excessive temperatures of other years and the warm wet season has brought a prospect of good crops – the corn is as high as an elephant’s eye. However, this is not without its problems as the strong growth and moist soil tend to complicate the use of heavy harvesting machinery and once again the small-holder with his horse-drawn cart does rather better.

Of course, the abundance of crops is of limited help to those who have no land to work or no money to buy them. This year to date, we have given out over 6 tons of food to families and individuals. Most of this food has come from donors in the UK but some has been grown on land at our warehouse and at Casa Neemia. The construction of the polytunnel has increased the productivity of the garden and some of the residents have become competent in the various tasks involved. They do not eat all the vegetables and that leaves a surplus to be donated. An offer has been received from a person willing to show interested residents how to preserve some of the produce for consumption during the winter.

The recent inspection of Casa Neemia resulted in some additional work, primarily related to changes in legislation during the construction period. The main requirement was additional fire-resistant under-cladding to the ceiling of the upper floor; this work has been completed and procedures are in hand to obtain the final approval before the end of this month.

Finally, it may be mid-summer for most of us in the northern hemisphere but logistical processes mean that we will soon have to start the preparations for this year’s Christmas gift box distribution.

This month’s featured photos

• Clothing and stationery – forward thinking for the next school term.
• Fresh vegetables from the garden at Casa Neemia.
• Christmas gift boxes – a mid-summer reminder!

Last month’s performance statistics

These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
[table id=<11> /]

Stats notes:
– Joiners are new registrants this month, Leavers are are those whose latest recorded donation was 12 months ago.
– Value of stock includes items which have been used in AN projects but not yet written out of these accounts.
– Items marked as “?” are awaiting final returns for the month.

Previous month, July 2018

It is three years since building work started on Casa Neemia and a lot has been achieved through hard work and God’s repeated demonstrations of His ‘just in time’ provision. Now, documents have to be found, certificates have to be signed and inspections completed but, concurrent with the publication of these notes, the formal construction period should come to an end. Our thanks go to all those who have been involved with this project, whether by physical activity, financial contribution or prayer support.

The most difficult part of fulfilling the vision now begins – establishing the house rules and finding someone to take on the management of the house and its residents. Ideally we are looking for a mature couple with pastoral experience who can befriend the residents and work with those who are already building relationships with them.

Turning to our regular activities, we currently have good stocks of clothing, household goods and rice, and, to a lesser extent, oil and other food. We continue to help people who need these items. However, statutory increases in the minimum wage have resulted in higher business overheads and widespread price rises. Whilst this means increased operating costs for AN, the impact is most keenly felt by those who have no wage to increase. We do not keep records of those whom we are unable to help but the perception is that more people are asking for assistance with bills and other expenses, and more requests have to be declined.

This month’s featured photos

• What’s behind the door?
• Open the box!
• Now move it!

Last month’s performance statistics

These statistics give a snapshot of our aid-related activities last month.
[table id=<12> /]

Stats notes:
– Joiners are new registrants this month, Leavers are are those whose latest recorded donation was 12 months ago.
– Value of stock includes items which have been used in AN projects but not yet written out of these accounts.
– Items marked as “?” are awaiting final returns for the month.