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The delivery of the goods for the 2nd year running

OCTOBER 2009

Hello Guys

Just an update to say we delivered the goods to both the Silistra Orphanages, the Hospital, the Home for the Elderly and the Villager's all safe and sound and they all had a fantastic time opening the goods. Also wanted to say the transport company Delamode Plc were super. Everything went like clockwork. Latcho and his team were just fantastic with everything. The driver was great too;
He rang the Director of the Dimcho and gave us enough notice of his arrival so we could round up help for unloading. Hopefully when we can afford to, we will use Delamode Plc again.

It was a very busy month for us;
we had so much to do lots of people to visit. Putting up the marquee took 6.5 hours and everyone helped, but the onus was on poor Dougie, as nobody had any idea how to put it up. In the past Dougie had put marquees and tents up but never one at 40ft square however, he is still not in the best of health, so he delegated. We had lots of helpers and they all managed very well. I will post some photos in due course on our website.

The Garden Party and presentation went well. The Director of the Orphanage organised for the TV, Radio and the Newspapers and the city deputy Mayor to be there. Also there was a programme set up whereby two of the older children read in English and Bulgarian, their greetings and thanked Dougie and myself and all the English people for all their help and support. It was really nice. We will try to get the TV programme on our website in due course.

Then, we heard all the speeches. First was the Deputy Mayor, then the Director and then myself. They thanks us again for bring the children goods for the second year running and naturally hoped we will continue in the future. The also thanked us on behalf of the other entire organisation we brought goods to. The said to thank all the English people, the companies and the military (TA) who are very kind and supportive to our cause and they are very happy we are helping them. Once that was over, we had the breaking of the bread and dipping in spices and then the children came round with a flower for us. The children than performed their folklore, singing and dancing, dressed in traditional Bulgarian costume. It was lovely to watch and they were so very proud of themselves.

Once all the ceremonies’ were over, we settled down to eating and then the disco started. The children were totally amazed and besotted with the music and the set up. It was wonderful to watch them, they danced and danced and had a brilliant time - You should have seen their faces, a picture of happiness. This is the first time they have had a disco at the Orphanage. The disco was done by our friends, BulgariaBill. He brought all his own equipment, thanks Bill you are a star. The children kept him busy. We were really please everyone enjoyed themselves. We had 18 British couples, which was wonderful as they had to travel for hours to get to Silistra. We also had members of the Peace Core who attended, so thanks a million for supporting us, we really appreciated it.

Sponsors Support

We also had brilliant support from UK Food Warehouse. They, John and Linda supplied all the food and drink free of charge, all they asked for was a donation and then, that was also donated to the Orphanage. They made 85 lev for us. A wonderful effort Thanks a million time over.

Paul from Freecycle also donated 5 boxes of books to sell to raise funds. Whatever was left over, we passed on to others to sell for us and the children books, we kept at the Orphanage, when they have finished with them, they will donate to the Silistra Library. Combined we raised a total of just under £90 which was fantastic, considering a teachers wages is under £200 a month. The Director was delighted. We told him this is the start of our fundraising towards the new flooring at the Orphanage for next year.

Opening the Goods

Opening the boxes was just fantastic. We had boxes and boxes of new goods that were donated by Gap, Next, JJB’s, Tesco’s etc. The children, the staff, the Director and everyone were just beaming from ear to ear. It was a great success. We also had boxes of goods donated from Freecycler’s as well as friend and family. We had so many boxes that we needed help to open them. Just watching the children’s faces light up when they were offered a jacket or trouser or trainers or even a small toy, was just brilliant!! This is what it was all about, seeing all their little smiling faces was enough to make me cry. Tears of joy, mind, It was wonderful, like getting a hug, right in the middle of all the activity from one little girl, because I gave here some socks. We just thank God we are blessed to have the opportunity to spread a little joy and happiness to those who deserve it all.

The children have very little but they make the best of what they do have and are truly grateful for what we do for them. The children are amazing;
they love to help with everything. They made flowers and painting and allsorts for decorating the marquee donated by Snowden's. They were just fantastic, they were smiling all the time and a pleasure to be around. They are extremely well behaved and very considerate towards each other. Every opportunity that arose they kidnapped Dougie to take their photos. Oh! and they especially love the Disney books Paul donated. Thanks million to everyone who help and supported us.

The Shoeboxes

As you know we filled and decorated 106 shoeboxes for the children at the Dimcho for Christmas. We separated all those boxes and are now stored ready to be opened on Christmas Day as well as the two 50lt boxes of sweets. Wow!! what a Christmas they will have! Can you imagine what it will be like?, yes indeed, fantastic!!! Only wish we could be with them, but it would be far too expensive for us to fly there then, plus with work commitments, it would be difficult – We just can’t have it all eh! Still, we had a wonderful, fantastic day on Sunday 20th Sept and most of all, had very good publicity for the Dimcho. Hopefully this will bring awareness and the need for funding and support from the Bulgarians too.

Plus I was invited to speak to an older group of children in one of the local schools. They were amazed that the English people can care so much for children they do not know. I explained the shoebox idea and asked them if they could try this year, to do the same thing on a small scale for the Refuge Centre in Silistra – I will try to follow this up. However, fundraising is not something the Bulgarians are very familiar with yet, but I am on the case!!!!!!....


We were delighted to hear that the local Rotary Club also organized a charity event for the children at the Dimcho on Saturday 19th Sept - a lunch and a boat trip on the Danube. The children really enjoyed themselves. So our special thanks goes to Tsvetana Tsanova and her team for organising this wonderful event, well done!!!. It was lovely to me you and hopefully we can work together planning more spectacular events. well done!!!.

Also, we delivered the new wheelchairs to the Silsitra Hospital again, they were delighted. Then we delivered the wheelchairs, walking frames, zimmer frames, walking sticks and 1 large box of spectacles - to the Home for the Elderly. They were delighted. They are in need of linen and blankets for next year, so we will see what we can do. We also went to the baby Orphanage. They had already picked up 36 boxes of goods from the Dimcho and Dr Tania Stoikova and her team were delighted and thanked us and the British people for their help. The goods will be kept for Christmas. Finally the 20 odd boxes of goods for the villagers were delivered to the community centre and they were equally delighted with their gifts and thanked us.

Finally just to say we achieved our target for the second year running and we are just delighted and proud of ourselves and all you guys for your part in supporting us. Special thanks to Captain Cutworth , his soldiers and their families, Snowden’s, all the retails outlets especially Kate, the Orton Line Dancers, Tom & Christine, the supermarket for allowing us to bag pack and all our friends from Freecyclers and the Forums and everyone else who has helped us, without you guys, we could not have filled the boxes and raised the funds for the transport, so well done!!

Our new target for 2010 is to raise the funds for new wood flooring and 15 internal doors - so get your thinking hats on, or you could always get the debit card out and visit our website hahaha!!! or spread the word. You can see the photos on the gallery and go to the Link to see the coverage from the articles in the papers. There will be another link going on next week from a follow up to our visit - so keep watching.

Thanks a million times over.

Berni & Dougie
Dimcho Debelianov Orphanage

Oddy [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Another great post from you and yet even more undying work that you 2 do I will certainly be looking for ways in which we as a forum can help to ensure that the floors and doors are a reality, I'm not to sure yet what to do so as you have already said Bernie I will ask the members to come forward with any suggestions both here in the UK and in Bulgaria, so come guys lets have your thoughts

Maybe we could have an Auction on the site for members only I will have a look and see if I have anything to offer

Well done both and I wish you all the best for your next project

Well done again to you both and all the folk that help

Bravo Berni & Dougie - a fantastic story, many congratulations!

a million guys for all your lovely comments and good wishes. Really do appreciate it. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Oddy

Well done both wish there were more about like this

Oddy

Hiya Bernie I have try to join your site but there seems to be a problem ? I got a reply after about a week saying that I had been approved and to click a link which I did and then I am to sign in which I did but then it said that I need to be approved again tried it 4 times now but no joy can you have a look at it for me when you get a min

Cheers

So sorry Nets I will get on to my co ordinator and see what the problem is, thank for letting me know. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Oddy

No worries these things always happen to me

Hi Nets

Ok sorted you are in now, see you have signed he guestbook Thanks a million

Oddy [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

December - Final update for 2009

Hi Guys

Another month/year has gone by and we have some wonderful news to share with you all.

1) Gap has send us 106 bags of clothing which will be boxed and stored once I speak with the TA, hopefully they will allow us storage space again for 2010, but if you can help with storage we would be very grateful indeed. Thanks a million times over to Gap for your wonderful contribution again, you have been outstanding and so many children in various Orphanages, Refuge Centre etc will benefit from your donations.

2) As you know the Peterborough Phantom Ice Hockey Club allowed us to go to one of their games and supporters donated a total of £62.05 fantastic!! Again we would like very much to thank Paul Young and the Phantom Ice Hockey Club for their support. You have been great! Thanks a million

3) We are very please to announce that Mr Curtis of Kelsey Publishing has offered us 5 perhaps 6 complete computers for the children in the Dimcho Orphanage. We are overwhelmed at his generosity. Handover has been organised for late Feb. Thank you so much, this will indeed make a huge difference to the children’s life. These computers will help in so many way - in particular improving their communication skills, which in turn will prepare them for life outside the Orphanage and their future careers.

4) Thanks also to Cheryl, Elly, Lesley, Trudi from Freecycle and to Melaine and Kayleigh from my place of work for fundraising via bag packing on 12 Dec at the Rainbow Co Op store in Yaxley. They raised a grand total of £275 This is absolutely amazing!!!!!!!! You are all just superstars. Thanks also to Stuart Mass and the staff at the Rainbow store for allowing us in - you have indeed giving us a brilliant start to our fundraising for the new floors and doors at the Dimcho Orphanage Well done!!!!

5) Thanks to Jody also from Freecycle who contacted us with a view to help where she can and she has indeed given us a huge Christmas present. Jody has organised a donation of a van for us for one week in March - This is totally fantastic, something we only dreamt about - You are our guardian angel Jody! thanks a million times over.

6) Thanks also to Denise & Peter also from Freecycle, who contact us and said they have a beautiful 3 bedroom caravan in Scotland which they rent out and would be more than happy to donate a week rental in the summer to us, to help with the cost of new flooring and doors. This is indeed a wonderful, fantastic offer and we are looking into how we can make the best use of this. Thank you Denise & Peter you are truly two wonderful people.

7) Plans are still in place for a book sale at my place of work, we are now looking at Jan 2010 but I will keep you updated - No doubt I will be advertising for books on Freecycle nearer the time.

8) Once again Tesco has offered to help us by inviting us to bag pack in Feb and Sainsburys have invited us to do the same in May so again I will be looking for volunteers, Elly, Dave and Trudi are already on the list, so if you have time and can help, please let us know. We need a list of volunteers so please contact us if you would like to help. We are only learning our self as we go along, so if you have any ideas again please let us know.

9) Ok now more good news ‘Take a Break’ magazine will be publishing a story on us sometime in Jan 2010 and Dougie and I will donate the fee to the Dimcho for the new flooring & Doors and transport. This is fantastic!

10) We have also been informed that a young girl Katie Whitaker age 15 from Beckfoot School Bradford West Yorkshire has organised a Shoebox appeal at her school and has put together about 20 shoeboxes for us for 2010. This is just wonderful Thank you Katie you are a little Gem! All we have to do now is figure out a way of getting them from Bradford to Peterborough, again if anyone can help please let us know

Next year 2010 we are also taking on the Woman’s Refuge Centre also in Silistra. We are not sure yet what exactly it is they need, or how many women and children are there, but I am awaiting this information and will update in due course

Recap on 2009

Well now, we have had a wonderful year in 2009. Thanks to everyone involved in helping and supporting us ie, Gap, Next, JJB’s Mr & Mrs Gray from teris, Rainbow & Tesco Superstores, Orton Line Dancers, the wonderful TA -158(Royal Anglian) Transport Regiment RLC(V) The ET, UK Foods Warehouse in Bulgaria and of course, as always Freecycle and Forum members and our fantastic helpers and many more who help us deliver our second load of goods in September to Dimcho Orphanage, the Baby Orphanages, the Home for the Elderly and the Hospital.

Thanks to your donation, you have all made such a big difference to the children, each child has clothing, shoes, toiletries of their very own and the adults have mobility items to assist them, something they are in great need of. They are just so happy with the gifts, it is just fantastic. Thank you all a million times over - Giving a child something as small as dinky car or a tiny doll or even a pair of socks and watching the child’s face light up, really is the best feeling in the world. Dougie and I are so very lucky, we blessed the day we made the decision to help these wonderful adorable children who would otherwise have nothing.

We also made up 106 shoeboxes with help from the Brownies, Rainbows, Guides, Cubs Ruth, Cheryl, Elly Joanne and various other members also from Freecycle. They will be giving to the children on Christmas Eve, as this is when the Bulgarians celebrate their Christmas. I hope to have photographs of this on the website soon after.

Once again thanks to our co ordinator Bill who manages the website for us, you are a superstar. Lastly, thanks to my wonderful husband Dougie for all his help and support He is a tower of strength and without him, none of this would be possible.

So all in all we have had a fantastic year for 2009. Sincerely hope we have just as much success with our project for new flooring, doors and transport for 2010 Remember if you can help in any way please do get in touch.

Dougie, myself Berni and the children of the Bulgarian Orphanages wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Berni & Dougie
Silistra Orphanage Bulgaria

Oddy

Hi Both, hope you both had a good break I have just read the update and it's amazing what you have achieved well done to you all for all that hard work which I know will make so much difference to the children, lets hope that next year is as good or better all the best for the new year and a Merry Christmas to you both and all those involved

ATB


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