Weekly update 47/23

We can conclude our Christmas packages promotion 2023 in Broek op Langedijk, all packages have been sent. It is now our contact persons in Romania's turn to ensure that the packages reach the right people. The first messages and photos have already arrived, the reactions are very positive, the contents of the packages are great, people are very happy with them.

It worked out well that in addition to the packages, we could also send many other "delicious things". The flow of incoming goods will continue for a while, there is still quite a bit in the "pipeline". So we can load even more trucks in 2023, a real end-of-year sprint.

On Monday, November 20, I picked up goods together with Siem in Amsterdam and also from Manna in Alkmaar. At Manna (stmannaschermer.nl), we got potatoes, first helped on the sorting line. Nice to experience, many volunteers are also active here offering help to people who are less fortunate.

Here is the link to a few photos.

On Tuesday afternoon, November 21, the first truck with a trailer was at our door, destined for Marghita and Ticau. Together with the driver, Siem and Kees, we filled it up within a reasonable time. This trailer was first unloaded in Marghita on Friday and then in Ticau. Reghina has received some extra potatoes from the farm and can therefore move forward again.

Here is the link to photos of the loading.

Here is the link to photos of Reghina.

On Wednesday, November 22, we first loaded a trailer with destination Phoneo Reghin and our depot in Breaza. This was full before noon and we could start the trailer with destination Botosani. There were collection jobs and we had to repack things. The job was finished at 3:00 PM and the second half of the 5,000 Christmas parcels were on their way to Romania. It is of course great that we can do this, especially now that more and more people are getting into trouble.

Here is the link to loading for Breaza and Reghin

Here the link to photos of the loading for Botosani.

The trailer for Breaza and Reghin will be unloaded there on Monday morning, November 27. The trailer for Botosani was already unloaded there on Saturday afternoon. So no problems at the border. A few Italian trucks were returned, a driver said.

Cristi said that he has become involved in setting up food banks in the region. Roman is the “central one” and Cristi is responsible for Botosani. More and more supermarkets and companies want to distribute their surplus in this way.

Igor will be there again soon to collect relief supplies. We were also able to make him happy with a donation that makes it possible for him to buy pigs in Ukraine for slaughter. Aid transports to Ukraine are becoming increasingly difficult due to stricter rules.

Here are the photos of the unloading in Botosani.

Miranda and Gerard-Jan are almost at the end of their Romania trip. You can see their experiences in the photo report below.

Here is the link to this report.

They also visited Elena and Viorel in Deaj. A visit to the gypsy community in the
village of Haranglab, some ten kilometers away, was also on the program. It is almost impossible to imagine how people live there, I have written about it before. Like everyone who sees this with their own eyes, they were deeply affected by it. The poor housing, the lack of food, medical care, etc. etc. it's really bad.

Over the course of the year, Viorel has already completed five simple ones with our support can build houses. To be able to do even more before the winter, action had to be taken quickly. We have managed to provide this too(!). Viorel and a construction team immediately started waterproofing the leaking flat roofs of six existing blocks of houses, in which a total of approximately 120 people live. Sloping roofs are now being constructed with corrugated sheets, at least it will be dry. In addition, three simple houses.

Here is the link to photos of Elena and Viorel including the start of construction.

The album below is made up of photos taken during this year.

Here is the link to these photos.

Marin and Henk from Band received their Christmas packages from our depot in Breaza. They have already started handing out, still a bit early for Christmas, but it is understandable when you see where they are placed on the table. They are very happy with it, the images speak for themselves.

Here is the link to photos.

Breaza is an important hub in the flow of goods. Csaba and Imola are busy distributing it. Below is the link to photos I received from them.

Here is the link to photos.

On Monday, November 27, I will go to the farm in Marghita with Nico Groot and then to Breaza. We will meet several of our contacts there. We will be home again on Saturday December 2.