Great Partnerships

You may have heard how Old Man Winter did his worst to the poor people in the eastern Romanian countryside.

Houses buried in snow...

People having to tunnel their way out...

Elderly people struggling to survive in harsh conditions...

People climbing up to shovel their roofs..

No electricity, windows covered by snow. See the Red Cross volunteers finding the door to this house.

Making stairways in the snow.

No indoor toilets.  "I know we have an outhouse here somewhere!"

And it isn't just their family they have to worry about...

There is the livestock to rescue too.

The anguish in this woman's face speaks volumes.

Many individuals and companies donated tons of food and supplies. The military brought in heavy equipment to clear the roads so the Red Cross could reach the stranded people.

Together they delivered life-sustaining basics to grateful recipients. We asked the Red Cross what we could do to help. They told us that people had donated enough food and blankets, but many victims had no safe source of heat or a way to prepare the food they were given. They told us about this handy item. 

A small wood-burning stove for heat and cooking.  We loved it!  We submitted the project, got the approvals and purchased 78 stoves.

The truck was loaded up and we were ready to roll.

We met the driver, Dodie, who was much happier than this picture shows, at a predetermined spot just outside of Bucharest.

He was accompanied by Sorana, a young lady with a very responsible position: Manager of Emergency and Disaster Relief for Red Cross Romania.

We followed behind in "Big Blue", one of the mission vehicles. The plan was to deliver the stoves to the two areas that were hit the worst. So our first stop - Buzau.

The Red Cross branch manager (next to Vicky) and her volunteers met us.  She had arranged for us to deliver stoves to 6 families in the area, so we could meet the recipients. We loaded 6 stoves in the back of "Big Blue" and followed the leader to make the deliveries, while Dodie took the big truck to the Buzau warehouse to unload half of his load at their warehouse.

Social services help the Red Cross determine who are in the greatest need, so we stopped to pick up one of their workers.  The village Priest also joined our happy caravan.

There had been a lot of melting since the biggest storms hit, but we were amazed at the sight that greeted us.

We had come from Bucharest where the snow had all but gone. Not here!

Randy stopped the caravan to take this shot.

Hmmm.  This could get a little sloppy....

The mother of Family #1 came out to greet us.

Volunteers carry in and unpack their new little stove.

Mom signs for receipt of the stove.

Randy gives each family member a knitted hat (made by one of our senior missionaries).

This cute little guy tries his on for size.

The social worker told us that this family's father is working outside the country (many do) and the mother was recently injured in a car accident.

Off we go into the mire to Family #2

The stove was being delivered to two elderly women. These nice neighbors came to lend a hand.

One of the ladies tells the Red Cross volunteer that she has cancer.

The priest comforts the other lady as the social worker makes concerned observations.

This is our next stop?? It looks abandoned.

Apparently it used to be an automotive shop.

Our two helpful neighbors bring a stove in for the fellow who is following behind.

In fact he lives in a small room at the back of this building.

Vicky gives him a new toque. Look behind us into his room. The ceiling looks awfully precarious.

At our next stop, we met this little bunica (grandmother). It has been a tough winter. Her son died. Her son's wife "couldn't handle it" so she took off, leaving their little boy for grandma to raise. Then during the worst of the winter.... 

she had a house fire.

The priest, the Red Cross branch manager and volunteer, Dana see that she lost everything. By the way, Dana and her husband lived in Calgary for 10 years before returning to Romania.

I couldn't help but notice the soot on her hands.  She had been sifting through the ashes.

She managed to find an iron headboard and a few dishes.

The village council has given a few supplies to rebuild, but there is so much more she needs.

There is a glimmer of hope in her eyes as her priest promises help.

Family #5. This mother suffers from severe asthma and had to be airlifted to hospital 4 times during the worst of the winter storms.

Family #6 has 3 children in school, the two children in their arms, and, if you look carefully, a one-week old baby laying on the bed behind them.  We were grateful to have been able to do something to bring relief to the 6 families in Buzau.  The Red Cross team will deliver the rest of their allotted stoves. We now follow Dodie and the truck on to Vrancea county.

Meet Red Cross branch manager, Rodica.  We have come to know her as a "force of nature" who is untiring in her determination to help the poor and needy in her community.

We stop at the Red Cross warehouse in the city of Focsani. The sign says "meals on wheels". The homeless come here every day for a hot meal.

We were glad to see the donated supplies piled to the ceiling in their storage area.

We load up 4 stoves into Big Blue for delivery today.

Before we head out, 2 volunteers have cooked us a delicious meal.

Randy meets the local firefighters who have been enlisted to unload the rest of the stoves and a truck load of bananas that have just arrived.

Rodica takes us out into the countryside where four families are living just up this muddy road.

Sorana and I were fussing about all the mud on our shoes until Randy reminded us that these folks have to live with it every day.

This mother and her teenage daughter came out to meet us. The daughter also had to be airlifted to hospital during the storms. Meanwhile, as you can see, their roof collapsed.

Another family lives in the shack on the hill.

We all put on a brave face for the photo op.

This is the same lady that showed such anguish on her face early in this story. We hope she is feeling love and support now. Annie (who had made us our meal) also came with us to make stove deliveries.  This is a hardworking team of volunteers!

A couple of recipients move the stoves from the van to the roadside. 

They will bring the horse and wagon down to pick up the stoves and deliver them to all 4 families. Vicky wanted to wait and ride in the wagon, but got out voted.

When we got back to Bucharest and tallied everything up, we had not spent all of our budget, so with the blessing of our supervisor, we returned to Focsani.

We told Rodica that we could purchase food for her Meals on Wheels operation. So we went shopping at Carrefour - a large grocery store.

We met the president of the Red Cross in Focsani, Mr. Ionescu. He pitched in and helped unload the groceries at the warehouse.

Proof positive that Vicky does more than just stand around taking pictures!

A mighty nice haul!

Rodica told us that our donation will provide 800 - 1000 meals. Have we mentioned we love our work?!