AN ELEVENTH-HOUR plea has been issued for sponsorship to enable an orphanage to open its doors to destitute Romanian youngsters.
The finishing touches are now being added to the children’s home in Suceava, which has been built by the Cheadle-based Romanian New Life Ministry.
But, before the first group of youngsters can be taken off the streets, the charity has to be able to guarantee it can feed and clothe them.
The charity sent a consignment of 1,000 shoe boxes to the stricken country just before Christmas, after donations flooded in from schoolchildren and well-wishers.
But, while appeals for humanitarian aid are always well-supported, guaranteed sponsorship is proving harder to get.
The charity needs pledges amounting to at least £1,000 a month before it can take in their first batch of children.
Father-of-four Chris Longhurst, who runs the Romania charity shop in Tape Street, Cheadle, has already helped raise £100,000 to fund the orphanage.
He admits it is frustrating to have got so far on the 10-year project only to be held up at the last hurdle by a shortage of sponsorship.
But he said he appreciated it was difficult for recession-hit businesses to guarantee a regular donation.
He said: „It is still bad over there. We sent over a cargo of shoe boxes just before Christmas and they will be distributed to children. Those appeals are always well supported by local people and schools.
„It is pledges and sponsorship that we are struggling with.
„We need to be able to guarantee a regular income of about £1,000 a month for clothing, food and schooling.
„We are only a small shop. It would be fantastic if we could get a couple of companies to support us, although we appreciate it is very difficult in this climate. It would make such a difference to the lives of these children.”
Mr Longhurst said: „It is a working centre as well as a home and it is functioning well in that capacity.
„The building is more or less complete and the furniture has been sent over. The drive will be the last thing that needs to be done. It is absolutely beautiful inside and we hope in take in about eight children.”
The charity is hoping to build a second home to rescue another 10 youngsters once the first is completed.
BOXED UP: Chris Longhurst, left, and Simon Farnell, New Life Ministries area co-ordinator, with the shoe boxes full of gifts. Picture: Shaun Smith
Read the article on The Sentinel
Charity seeks help to open orphanage
AN ELEVENTH-HOUR plea has been issued for sponsorship to enable an orphanage to open its doors to destitute Romanian youngsters.
The finishing touches are now being added to the children’s home in Suceava, which has been built by the Cheadle-based Romanian New Life Ministry.
But, before the first group of youngsters can be taken off the streets, the charity has to be able to guarantee it can feed and clothe them.
The charity sent a consignment of 1,000 shoe boxes to the stricken country just before Christmas, after donations flooded in from schoolchildren and well-wishers.
But, while appeals for humanitarian aid are always well-supported, guaranteed sponsorship is proving harder to get.
The charity needs pledges amounting to at least £1,000 a month before it can take in their first batch of children.
Father-of-four Chris Longhurst, who runs the Romania charity shop in Tape Street, Cheadle, has already helped raise £100,000 to fund the orphanage.
He admits it is frustrating to have got so far on the 10-year project only to be held up at the last hurdle by a shortage of sponsorship.
But he said he appreciated it was difficult for recession-hit businesses to guarantee a regular donation.
He said: „It is still bad over there. We sent over a cargo of shoe boxes just before Christmas and they will be distributed to children. Those appeals are always well supported by local people and schools.
„It is pledges and sponsorship that we are struggling with.
„We need to be able to guarantee a regular income of about £1,000 a month for clothing, food and schooling.
„We are only a small shop. It would be fantastic if we could get a couple of companies to support us, although we appreciate it is very difficult in this climate. It would make such a difference to the lives of these children.”
Mr Longhurst said: „It is a working centre as well as a home and it is functioning well in that capacity.
„The building is more or less complete and the furniture has been sent over. The drive will be the last thing that needs to be done. It is absolutely beautiful inside and we hope in take in about eight children.”
The charity is hoping to build a second home to rescue another 10 youngsters once the first is completed.
BOXED UP: Chris Longhurst, left, and Simon Farnell, New Life Ministries area co-ordinator, with the shoe boxes full of gifts. Picture: Shaun Smith
