Silistra Orphanage

The goods, a whole 27 cubic meters arrived in Silistra and the Director Stilian and the children unloaded the lorry and stored all the goods which we had already colour coded for organisation identify.

We had goods for everybody including our own Silistra orphanage the Dimcho, the Baby orphanage, the Home for the Elderly, The Disability Centre,  Malek Pretlavets orphanage, Dobrich orphanage, Pryatail orphanage the local doctors surgery and three local villages. We had so much stuff it was difficult to find a place to store it for to long so we had to arrange collection asap. We went around all the organization in Silistra and arranged a pick up date and time.  The one far away like Dobrich had transport problems but did come with one car and fill the car. The remaining 50 odd boxes of goods were giving to other establishments.  We also had to rely on our British friends who were attending the Garden Party to fill their cars with however many boxes they could and drop them off at the orphanage in their area for us, once again these lovely people came to our rescue. Thanks a million guys you all did fantastic. 

Due to the problem of transporting goods around Bulgaria we have decided that we will only stick to our own region of Silistra next year.
We had been to the orphanage every day since we arrived in Silistra. There was so much to do so many boxes of goods to get moved and check and get ready for the Garden Party. We sorted all the party boxes out but could not find the ones with the cup plates etc so we had to go to every establishment and check though their boxes. We searched everywhere but could not find them until the morning of the party when we were sending someone to buy new ones, one of the cooks said she put that box of item into the store room – Phew! a sigh of relief when out came the box with the 500 odd cups plate and cutlery along with the tea and coffee. 

We ordered the bread finger rolls for the sausages Freezerman Andy donated to us.  He had already given us burgers and all the baps to go with them.  I bought soft finger rolls (fruit ones) just to show them what we wanted as we did not want a repeat of last years half a French loaf each.  Anyway all was clear and we ordered 320 finger rolls and they would be ready the morning of the party.  We went along to pick them up and they were not soft finger rolls but crusty finger rolls however, they were smaller than last year.  Could not do anything then so, had to accept them. 

We also collected the drinks that were donated by a sponsor in Silsitra.  Unfortunately there was very little support from the companies in Silistra, which was a dreadful shame considering all the advertising and media cover plus they all thought what we do is brilliant. We had help with delivering the computers from NTZ Taransport Ltd in Sofia which was wonderful.  Our first Bulgarian company that helps us is Nominal Ltd    from Burgas.  Borislav has been sponsoring us for 3 years now.  They are just wonderful and in addition to their annual donation Borislav also supplied two massive boxes of sweets for the Dimcho.  Well done guys you did fantastic!  Hopefully next year we will have a few more companies joining Nominal Ltd and NTZ Taransport Ltd.Thanks again for the support of the British companies including Anglo-Info, Bulgarian Lifestyle, The Chocolate Box, BritishexportsBG, Freezerman and Pescott’s and others in Bulgaria and the expats living there.  They were all just amazing and they traveled from all over Bulgaria for hours and hours just to be with us, You guys are just amazing! Thanks a million time over for your continual support, without you guys we would have been totally lost.

Donations: The food at the Garden party was donated by our British friends Andy & Jane Moat or as many of you know him ‘Freezerman’  who donated all the sausages/burgers and baps and had them delivered to the orphanage for us.  Thank you so much Andy you did fantastic and may I say that everyone commented on the burgers and sausages how tasty they were so well done you!! Kevin Pescott  ‘Masterbutcher’ sent to the Dimcho vouchers worth 200lev for food for the raffle along with Birdseye burgers and sherbet dips for the children.  Thank you Kevin for your wonderful gifts the children were truly delighted plus the raffle prizes and gifts for the children they are just amazing.  Kevin has already come forward and said he will be happy to provide all the meat's for next year's event, how amazing is that!! Thanks to the Chocolate Box Michela & Chaz for the sweets including a very large bag of Smartis they donated, Joanne for the lovely cupcckes, Sharon and Pete from British Imports Bg who donated burgers and sausage all these item were special treats for the children,   Thanks also to Jerry, Mike and Katya, Nellie and the girls, Sue and Dave, June and Dave and Sue and Arthur, Christine and Lester and Mike and Jan, Bill & Sue and anyone one else we may have missed  you all did a fantatic job helping on the day. So once again thank you so much we are overwhelmed with all the support you gave and continue to give us. We look forward to meeting with you all again next year.

Friends gave us raffle prizes.  Nets Sheead did a beautiful painting and donated this to us, Cliff Norton donated and send a fantastic print of ‘Finch in the snow’ but we did not get enough time to auction this so thei will be kept for next year, thanks guys. Cindy at Anglo-Info gave a 2 ring electric cooker top and a free advertising posting.  The advertising posting was offered to Andy Freezerman. Irene donated 4 porcelain dolls which were auctioned off and raised 150 lev fantastic amount, thanks guys..  Michelle Warner of Bulgarian lifestyle made a fabulous cake and did guess the weight which raised around 80 lev then the cake was won by Sue & Dave and they auctions it off.  Christine and Lester won it for 40 lev so Michelle’s cake raised a total of 120 lev.  Then Christine and Lester donated the cake back to the orphanage.  The children were delighted when they saw the cake and all the special treats donated to them.  Yes indeed,  they were truly spoilt and that was everyone intentions on the day. Thanks a million guys for making our day, you were all just brilliant and the children were so very happy

                                                                              
Bryan Talbot: Bryan is a wonderful man!  He has help us so much over the last year or so with various projects. Since he has found out about the orphanage. Bryan just keeps coming up with ways to help including organizing a Bulgarian Night at his local pub last year which raised and donated £100 to the orphanage. He has done various other competitions and he has gone one step further by doing all the photography for the Garden Party this year 2011.  He flew to BG just to do the photography for us.  He will produce a photo album for the orphanage and a copy for us in the UK again Bryan will do this at his own cost and will not take any contribution what so ever.  He is a fantastic person and we are so luck to have him on our side.  Bryan has helped us in so many ways including securing the food for the garden party. Bryan is just wonderful he will be presenting the photo album to the Dimcho director on his never visit to BG.  Thank you a million time over, we are truly grateful to you and Shiela your lovely wife.  We are so looking forward to seeing the photographs.   

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