A Derry charity responsible for building orphanages in eastern Europe has told the 'Journal' it has "nothing left in the bank."
The North West Romanian Fund is appealing for help from the Derry public to fund a mercy mission for orphans in Romania.
The cash-strapped charity needs to raise £3,000 urgently to pay for a trip to deliver supplies to an orphange in the city of F
agaras.
Volunteers from the North West Romanian Fund have been travelling to Romania since the revolution in 1989, delivering aid to orphanages, clinics, churches, community groups and baby clinics to children suffering from the AIDS epidemic.
Kevin Carlin, from the North West Romanian Fund, says the charity has just built a new orphanage in the city but, as a result, incurred additional costs of £10,000, leaving the charity's coffers empty.
Mr. Carlin is now asking Derry people to help cover the transport costs to take badly-needed supplies to Fagaras.
"In the city of Fagaras, our charity has built a new orphanage on a green field site. The last year has been spent completing a new wing. The project has cost about £400,000.
The money has come from local businesses, the Round Table, the Rotary club, but most important of all, from the public in the North West.
"Last month at the official handover and opening of the new wing, we were handed an unexpected bill for £10,000. This has left us with nothing in the bank," he said.
Mr. Carlin added: "Over the years the generosity of the public has been nothing sort of astounding. We urgently need to raise money for diesel for the vans of supplies and for the boat to Romania.
"Hopefully, the Derry public will respond to our call."
Donations can be made to Bank of Ireland, Strand Road (NW Romanian Fund). The bank code is 90-49-74, the sort code is 00-14-15 and the account number is 70741488.
The full article contains 333 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
