Charity in desperate need of storage
THE Friends of Romania charity is in urgent need of somewhere to store donations.
Usually charity co-ordinators Wilf and Patricia Holland fill their Transit van with one-tonne loads and drive across multiple borders to deliver aid several times a year.
For nine years, a secure and dry private bunker was provided to the charity for storage.
Now three to four tonnes of items need rehoming by the middle of this month.
This has accumulated due to Covid-caused border restrictions and the lack of a ‘safe corridor’ through Europe, coupled with Brexit complicating Customs procedures.
‘We’ve had nine years here and it has been wonderful,’ said Mrs Holland.
‘It has been the easiest storage with a key for access to come and go as we wish.’
Established in 1992, previous facilities required owners to be present.
‘We understood this completely. If anybody has a space with room to spare that is safe, dry and secure that is the most important thing. Our funds are limited because they all go on people. Our real wish is to get all of this over there as soon as possible, but for now need to store it safely. All funds from last year are husbanded, so we could get four loads out provided the other end is ready.’
Splitting the donations into separate facilities would be appreciated, but having it all under one roof would be preferred.
Each box is organised, labelled, weighed, with all the necessary paperwork completed.
It is all ready to go to Bistrita, a Romanian city in the Transylvania region, as soon as possible – a journey which takes four days each way.
Included within the donations are around 300 delayed Christmas presents addressed by name to Romanian children.
‘It worked so well for many years,’ Mrs Holland said. ‘We had to write to say we can’t do it. But Christmas will come whenever we can.’
Mr Holland said: ‘Europe is currently in its third wave of Covid. In Romania itself there is a curfew from 9pm until 5am, and residents are not allowed to travel outside of town.’
After years of service the charity has earned a good reputation with the city and its people.
‘The whole lot arrives safely and we have a good reputation here and in Romania. Their town doesn’t receive much help from the outside. They know when they open a box that it contains what it says on the box.’
Mr and Mrs Holland were booked to make the trip in April, with paperwork ready and accommodation booked en route.
. Call 01481 255129 or email wilf.holland@cwgsy.net if you can offer safe, dry and secure storage facilities.
