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By MATTHEW REVILLE
Published on Friday 16 September 2011 13:36

Donations on their way to orphanages

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A BIG-hearted couple have sent more than a sleigh full of presents for grateful Bulgarian orphans to open this Christmas.

An amazing 27 pallets of goods were today loaded on to a lorry, which is on its way to one of the poorest areas in the world to spread some festive cheer.

Bernadette and Doug Leggett, from Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, have spearheaded the annual charity effort since buying a house in the eastern European country in 2005.

The levels of poverty shocked them, and the couple decided to start a charity drive back in Peterborough to help the Dimcho Debelianov Orphanage.

Since driving the first donations more than four years ago, the couple have now expanded to help more groups, and will send presents to nine orphanages, a hospital, an old people’s home and a disability centre this Christmas.

Bernadette said: “We are two ordinary people trying to help the less fortunate in life – and what better cause is there than to put a smile on a child’s face?

“We have been overwhelmed with the donations. We have had things donated by friends, colleagues and groups – they have all been fantastic.

“With this simple and super idea everyone can gain, the people who donate can be very proud they have helped those who are less fortunate then themselves and obviously all the establishments receiving gift boxes will benefit too.

“Hopefully it can help them have a wonderful, happy Christmas for a change.”

The goods are both new and good second-hand things, with items like clothing, shoes, toys, sweets, small electrical goods and knitted blankets and wool.

Although most presents will be handed out on Christmas Day, there will also be another celebration on October

Doug said: “It was cheaper to get all the presents over there in September.

“They will be stored with the managers of the centres to which the presents are going to, but we thought it would be a good idea to hand out some of the presents at the garden party.

“We had one last year and, as well as the local Bulgarians, we had 28 British ex-pat couples come along.

“We have a famous Bulgarian singer Daniel Delev coming along too.”

The packaging has been done by Tee Kay Packaging Ltd in Fengate, and the donations are being stored at P C Howard Ltd on Stamford Road, King’s Cliffe.

Businesses that have contributed include Freecycle, Freegle, Netmums, as well as international companies such as Next and Gap.

The couple are still collecting donations, and have hit their target to cover transport costs.

Bernadette added: “We can only afford to send goods out once a year. Transport costs are our biggest problem so we do what we can to raise funds.

“We do bag packing and holding second hand book sales during the year. We have reached the target of £1,200 again this year, which is fantastic.”

The pallets will go to the Dimcho Orphanage, Baby Orphanage, Dobrich Orphanage, Malek Orphanage, Pryatail Orphanage, the Home for the Elderly and the local Doctors surgery.

To read more about the charity drive visit <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bulgariaorphanagesillistra.com">[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] w -->

This is truly amazing and a picture of human kindness its amazing how far people will go to help those in need once they have been told and this is what I call a good result. I applaud you all and also the company and the Md Andrew Howard of PC Howard Ltd

Brilliant!

:Thumb:

Just shows what can be done - SUPER!!

This morning Dougie and I and 3 warehouse staff at PC Howard loaded the lorry to go to Bulgarian, we have much more that we thought which mean a price increase  driver was not amused as we took up 1/2 his lorry    see below

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Well done Bernie and to all those involved and here's to next year

I think it goes without saying that all members on this forum will second your post Admin
From me and my family, Berni and Dougie we hope you all have a great day come 1st October and may the sun shine on you all
:Good luck:and very best wishes

Good luck and I sincerely hope you all have a lovely day as I'm sure you will I'll keep my fingers crossed for good weather but I'm sure it will be a great day for all of you whatever the weather does?

Thanks for your lovely comments Guys really appreciate it.

The good arrived yesterday afternoon at the Silsitra Orphanage. We will sort it all out when we get there next week.

Well here we are again a year on and here is this 2012 years donation.  22 palled were hand balled onto the Bulgaria lorry today but our storage company PC Howard Ltd and ourselves. We had great fun the atmosphere was brilliant - everyone was so supportive to us the local media too photos too.

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How lovely Berni to see all your hard in place it will brig so much joy to the kids and yet they probably won't realize how much work has gone into doing this but at least you do see the results on their faces.

Lovely jublee

oddball wrote:

Well here we are again a year on and here is this 2012 years donation. 22 palled were hand balled onto the Bulgaria lorry today but our storage company PC Howard Ltd and ourselves. We had great fun the atmosphere was brilliant - everyone was so supportive to us the local media too photos too.

Thanks Guys 5 orphanages, the home for the elderly, doctors surgery and 3 villages good going for this year.

Great news Berni you are a credit to man kind and one day you will be rewarded for this kindness.