After months of planning and weeks of packing boxes all the incredible donations finally left Newton Aycliffe, Thursday 12th November, on the first leg of their journey to Romania. The doors closed on the truck and there really wasn’t much room to spare! As usual everyone has been so kind and generous and this year we have been blown away with the amount people have selflessly given, especially in these very trying times.

Sarah-Jane Jackman, Paws2Rescue Design Manager and the North East co-ordinator, said, “we are amazed, but not entirely surprised, at the amount of donations we have received for this very worthwhile appeal. Box upon box of clothes, shoes, coats, toys, food, toiletries and shoeboxes, full of treats, have been generously given by so many people who have given up their time to try and make a child or family’s Christmas this year.

The children in Romania and Moldova are in such desperate need, this year more than ever. Many without even a pair of shoes, and certainly no chance of a Christmas present without the kindness of everyone in the UK. Every single donation really will bring a smile to a child in such desperate need.

This is the 7th year of this appeal and year on year we are able to help more people who, without the help of charities like ours, wouldn’t have much of a Christmas. This year we really didn’t expect to be able to send as much, with COVID-19 meaning more people than ever have lost their jobs, but we’ve pulled it out of the bag.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Madison Jackman for her donations and use of her garage for storage, Kat Brock and friends for boxes full of pasta, chocolate and many other treats and necessities, Lesley Smith, Adam and Shelana Stott and Barbara Hodgson for bags full of clothes, shoes, toiletries and toys, Sheena Stephenson of Supporting Families for hundreds of pairs of shoes, Susan Trohear and her husband, who travelled all the way from Cumbria to drop off dozens of boxes & bags and Beverley Dowson, along with her friends Debbie, Sarah, Gail and Liz, who brought over 100 shoeboxes for the children. Without you all we wouldn’t have achieved any of this.”

Paws2Rescue are a registered charity, 1156882, primarily rescuing and providing shelter for the stray dogs of Romania, providing education to the children and in communities plus neuter programmes for cats and dogs. Re-homing dogs from overseas and the UK.

For more information on all the work we do, please contact us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Paws2Rescue@outlook.com or Paws2Rescue.com