Weekly update Engels

Once again, we've managed to send a trailer with valuable relief supplies to Romania. This time, on Wednesday, July 23rd, we loaded a trailer for Cristi in Botosani. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this wasn't possible for a while, but thankfully, it is now possible again. This trailer didn't travel partly by train to Romania, but directly by road, a 2.200-kilometer journey. Here's the link to Google Maps.

Loading went well; we were able to start at nine o'clock, and by lunchtime the trailer was full of beautiful, mostly edible, items. The collections also went smoothly, and everyone finished on time.

Here's the link to a photo album.

A new activity was repacking a batch of pasta from so-called big bags. It took some experimenting, and the first 600-kg bag didn't go perfectly. Now that we know the best method, the next five will be easier. We'll then have a nice batch of food to bring to our people in Romania.

Here's the link to some photos.

On Saturday, July 26th, the truck and trailer arrived in Botosani, and unloading will begin soon. Cristi is happy to be able to resume distributing relief supplies. He was able to continue helping poor people with food items like bread and milk from local sources.

On Friday, July 25th, the trailer we had loaded on July 17th arrived in Breaza for unloading. With this hot weather, the journey, which is partly by train, is actually taking too long. The quality of the contents isn't improving. Fortunately, the quality of this shipment was still excellent, Csaba said.

Marin and Eniko from Band have completed their weekly program again; it's great that this continues. It is and remains important work.

Here's the link to a photo album.

Reghina from Ticau hasn't been idle. Attila from the farm in Marghita has delivered another beautiful shipment of potatoes and vegetables to her.

Here's the link to a photo album.

Ila Witte from the Phoneo Foundation in Reghin also shared some photos and a message about their activities. They are also happy with our support.

Here's the link to the photos.

Viorel and Elena from Deaj have done a lot of work again. It's wonderful that we can help make this possible.

Romania is facing all sorts of problems that are affecting the country's economy. Incomes are under pressure and the cost of living is rising. People who are already struggling are being hit even harder.

Here's the link to a photo album.

Joszi from Tirgu Mures sent his weekly photo series. The people there are happy that their children can get a hot meal and clean clothes. Just like the other things Joszi does there.

Here's the link to the photos.

Henk Muller also shared another photo series with an explanation; he's always experiencing something. The first preserving jars have been put into use.

Here's the link to this photo album.

Next Monday, Wim Bos from Weesp will be picking up supplies for us in the middle of the country. We're receiving 10.000 toothbrushes from St. HiRF in Weesp, and Wim also has some supplies he wants to share with us. We're receiving a lot of potatoes from St. Manna; by Wednesday, we'll have 10 cubic meter boxes full.

Thanks to St. Manna, 35 tons of potatoes will be shipped from an arable farmer's farm in Biddinghuizen to the Beetsma brothers' farm in Wieringermeer on Monday. They'll be packing these potatoes in bags for us. Afterward, they can be sent to Romania. Due to the high temperatures, we'll be using refrigerated trailers to ensure they're shipped at the correct temperature. Csaba told me he can "easily" distribute this quantity correctly. Some population groups simply have a food shortage, and potatoes are the number one staple food.

Feeding cows here and shortages there don't go hand in hand. This way, we're at least doing something about this form of food waste.

We're loading a refrigerated trailer next Wednesday, so we can be sure the potatoes will arrive safely, and we can also transport the layer cakes we get from our neighbors.

It's going to Breaza by road, so it could be here as early as Saturday, August 2nd.