Asociatia Neemia has been operating as a legal entity in law since 1997; it is a non-profit organization, providing social services to people and families in difficulty. The primary activity of the association is based on providing material and financial support to people and families in difficulty, including the distribution of funds, and also other humanitarian activities.
The principal area of activity of the association is the city of Dorohoi and the neighbouring areas but also extends to some more distant villages where there are still social and material problems in low and very low income families. 2020 was a challenging and unusual year for many people but, with God’s help, we have been able to maintain a high level of service to the community.
Asociatia Neemia received aid goods to a total value equivalent to some £56,800 including goods received in kind and items purchased locally using sponsorship for that purpose. This total is some 40% lower than in 2019, primarily due to COVID restrictions impacting the number of loads from the UK. Donations of goods in kind amounted to £66,460 with the mismatch being resourced from stocks from last year.
The association continued with the distribution of material aid whilst complying with the various regulations during 2020: items including food, hygienic-sanitary materials for personal hygiene, clothing, footwear and linen were given to over 900 families. Here is an overview of how we were involved in improving or resolving as many social situations as possible:
- in the sanitation of some houses offering lime or washable paints and other construction materials: – 20 families;
- for the repair of some houses or household annexes (windows, doors); home furniture was provided: – 15 families;
- offered manual and electric wheelchairs, night-pot chairs, walking aids and crutches for people with disabilities and the elderly: – to about 75 people;
- depending on the existing requests and the needs of the immobilized people, packages of diapers, linens were donated: – to about 30 people;
- the costs of operations, medical prescriptions or medical investigations and treatments were financially supported: – to about 30 people;
- approximately 1,600 Christmas gifts were offered to children and adults during the winter holidays through schools, families or churches;
- financial support was offered to some families to procure school supplies or to pay for the transportation of the children to school: – 5 families;
- musical instruments were offered to 6 children;
- 7 computers were donated to families with school children who do not have the opportunity to buy them;
- We paid rents for about 8 young people who had been raised in institutions and who have no place to live, I also trained them in certain daily activities – shopping, paying bills, etc;
- We offered financial help to some families for refilling gas cylinders and for the purchase of firewood – 18 families. In this respect the winter months are much busier, because the problems are more numerous;
- Social housing was made available to a family from a neighboring village and they were helped to pay for their agricultural work and seeds for crops. In this way they were trained to manage and get involved in providing some of the necessary food on their own;
- Accommodation and self-management facilities at Casa Neemia were offered to 12 young people who in the past had been in institutions and then had no place to live.
Several local people and partners from abroad trained in volunteer activities to show solidarity with the social problems of those in need.
The proposed objectives have been met and the staff of the association is satisfied with the activities carried out and the effects on the beneficiaries of the services offered by the association. Our activities have been possible only through the support of many people, both in Romania and in other countries, and we thank them on behalf of those who have benefited from their generosity.
