Unique partnership delivers unexpected gift for Romanian family
World Vision staff in Constanta county helped to organise the fundraising campaign “Gifts for the poor children” to help Florica Apavaloaie and her seven children who have always gone without or struggled to get by because of a low level of education and limited employment opportunities.
In one week the campaign raised 2,324 lei (US$700) through an exhibition of some 2,000 small traditional souvenirs handcrafted by children in World Vision-supported Art Clubs.
Local Police, Constanta County Border Police, Emergency and Civil Protection Inspectorate and the Brigade of Countering Organized Criminality in Constanta all joined the campaign with staff members purchasing the handcrafted gifts for their wives, mothers and daughters.
With the money raised, World Vision bought a new washing machine, a refrigerator and food supplies for the family. One man was so touched by the fundraising effort that he donated a television for the children.
“I never expected to receive such wonderful gifts”, shared Florica, when World Vision staff knocked at her door with the gifts.
This is the first present that my mother has received in her entire life
The gifts came at just the right time. The family’s old washing machine had been broken since December and Florica has had to wash her seven children’s clothing by hand. The 20-year-old refrigerator had been retrieved from the scrap iron deposit and then reconditioned, but no longer keeps food sufficiently cold and Florica always worried if the contents were safe to consume.
The television was installed in Mihai and Adrian’s room – two brothers who both suffer from muscular dystrophy and are immobilised in bed. They love to watch cartoons and movies and the gift was a welcomed treat.
"It was a real pleasure to join World Vision’s campaign. The traditional souvenirs handmade by children were received with great respect for their talent and work as for the noble purpose they had”, said Ionel Truan, Chief of Constanta Border Police.
Volunteers and the participation of children in helping others is integral to World Vision’s development approach in Constanta County and across Romania, where hundreds of volunteers are beginning to get involved in seeking out solutions to challenges and issues in their communities and helping families like the Apavaloaies.
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In one week the campaign raised 2,324 lei (US$700) through an exhibition of some 2,000 small traditional souvenirs handcrafted by children in World Vision-supported Art Clubs.
Local Police, Constanta County Border Police, Emergency and Civil Protection Inspectorate and the Brigade of Countering Organized Criminality in Constanta all joined the campaign with staff members purchasing the handcrafted gifts for their wives, mothers and daughters.
With the money raised, World Vision bought a new washing machine, a refrigerator and food supplies for the family. One man was so touched by the fundraising effort that he donated a television for the children.
“I never expected to receive such wonderful gifts”, shared Florica, when World Vision staff knocked at her door with the gifts.
This is the first present that my mother has received in her entire life
The gifts came at just the right time. The family’s old washing machine had been broken since December and Florica has had to wash her seven children’s clothing by hand. The 20-year-old refrigerator had been retrieved from the scrap iron deposit and then reconditioned, but no longer keeps food sufficiently cold and Florica always worried if the contents were safe to consume.
The television was installed in Mihai and Adrian’s room – two brothers who both suffer from muscular dystrophy and are immobilised in bed. They love to watch cartoons and movies and the gift was a welcomed treat.
"It was a real pleasure to join World Vision’s campaign. The traditional souvenirs handmade by children were received with great respect for their talent and work as for the noble purpose they had”, said Ionel Truan, Chief of Constanta Border Police.
Volunteers and the participation of children in helping others is integral to World Vision’s development approach in Constanta County and across Romania, where hundreds of volunteers are beginning to get involved in seeking out solutions to challenges and issues in their communities and helping families like the Apavaloaies.
-Ends-
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