REPORT ON TABITHA BULGARIA FOUNDATION’ S CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN 2017
HUGE THANKS TO OUR DONORS!
Thanks to the generous support and kind understanding of Tabitha Bulgaria’s donors, volunteers and fans we made the children and the elderly happy and radiant for the Christmas season. More than 20 social institutions with over 550 children and 100 low-income older people (from Roman and the region) received presents, parties and warm food in the Eve of Christmas and New Year.
Mrs. Agnes van Uchelen, Mr. Maarten Koel, Mr. Rients Boiten and Albena Matova
In November the president of Tabitha Bulgaria visited Holland in November and met with Promotie, Tabitha Holland and Stichting Kindertehuizen Bulgarije Foundations which contributed greatly to the Christmas campaign!
Like every Christmas, in the last 6 – 7 years we received generous financial support from Stitching Promoties (NL) which has held the Bulgarian children’s fate at heart. Without their understanding and help we would not have been able to organize the Christmas campaign to all the institutions we work with. We would like to acknowledge Maarten Koel for his concern and commitment to the needs of the children in Bulgaria for so many years. The money was managed through Stichting Kindertehuizen Bulgarije “geloof, hoop&liefde (NL) and we greatly appreciated the personal involvement of Mrs. Agnes van Uchelen for the donation.
We would also like to say many thanks to G.O.A.L.(UK), Jody Kerr and their supporters’ fundraising initiative which also provided additional Chrismas money for 4 homes(Razliv, Pleven, Roman and Dren). The kind donation of Jody’ s mother – warm hats for the children from Razliv home were greatly apprecaited. The moral commitment and financial help from Orphan appeals (Ireland), specially to Catherine Barkley, her wonderful sister Betty and her group of children inheritance crèche, who held a fundraising raffle at Christmas, family , friends and the lovely staff at Beaumont Private Clinic came right on time. They never forget the children from Roman social homes. The staff from the Bank supervision of BNB also collected clothes for the children from Razliv Home and donated a lump sum for their needs (food, shoes and socks).
The children from Roman and Stara Zagora homes got a special surprise because part of their Dutch friends, volunteering every summer in Bulgaria, spent the Christmas season with them. It meant more fun, more presents and parties.
Tabitha Netherlands group in Roman Werkgroep Bulgarije in Wijk & Aalburg in Stara Zagora
Tabitha foundation also appreciated the great New Year’s initiative of Ivan and Philip Matov and their friends who collected money at their New Year’s party and provided a washing machine for Roman social complex and piano lessons for Iso, an orphan who grew up in the orphanage in Gorski Senovets but is now a student at the Conservatoire in Sofia.
Money collected by Ivan, Philip & friends’ imitative Washing machine + piano lessons
We are grateful for the personal involvement of our families and friends who gave us a hand in packing the presents for the homes and cooking for IWC Bazaar. Special thanks to Fashion Studio LMV and the cooking skills of Kati, Eli, Jana and friends who made a huge amount of delicious cookies for IWC Bazaar. Special acknowledgement to Iliana, Elena, Marta, Philip, Ina, Krissi, Neda, Lucas and friends who helped us make it through the Christmas campaign in December 2017.
Tabitha Bulgaria’s Christmas campaign started with our participation in the IWC Christmas Bazaar. The money fundraised at the Bazaar will provide funding for many social projects in Bulgaria.
Tabitha Bulgaria Stall.
Like every year in the last five years we received a generous donation from the Foundation MAX Maakt Mogelijk (NL) for the old people with low income in the town of Roman and the region through “Tabitha Netherlands” and the personal commitment of Rients Boiten. It allowed us to provide for 50 retired people winter packages with staple food: cooking oil, rice, beans, lentils, sugar, instant soups, macaroni, biscuits, waffles and 2 m³ fire-wood per person.
The celebration was preceded by a lot of shopping
The elder children from the Roman social institution helped us make and distribute the winter packages. The misery in which the old people live is heartbreaking; their low incomes do not allow them to enjoy their old age. The people were moved by the generous donation because it would help them make it through the winter.
The Dutch group from Putten and the children from the social complex helped with distributing the wood.
Winter packages for 50 destitute retired people in Roman and the region.
This Christmas MAX foundation also transferred money for a Christmas party for the elderly. We organized a feast for 70 old people in Roman, including all the destitute people from the soup kitchen. The kids from the orphanage performed at the party. The mayor of Roman attended the elder people’s Christmas party to pay them respect. We made presents for all the people and also gave salami to the poorest old people
The elderly enjoyed the good food, the presents and the wonderful atmosphere.
Thanks to PROMOTIE FOUNDATION (NL) we provided Christmas presents for all social institutions Tabitha Foundation works with. Some of the institutions got additional donations from other Tabitha’s partners.
BOTEVGRAD CENTRES OF ACCOMMODATION OF A FAMILY TYPE – there are 20 children and adults, aged 6-25, some with serious mental and physical disabilities. We brought them food for Christmas and New Year’s Eve and sweets.
Santa Claus cheers up the Christmas season of the kids with nice presents!
DREN – Home for children deprived of parental cares “Joy” – 18 children, aged 2- 14 years. We provided presents of their choice and chocolates so the kids were really excited. With the support of G.O.A.L. we brought them food for the Christmas and the New Year’s Eve. We also gave presents to our babas there.
George giving presents /Albena with babas Food for the children
DUPNITSA SOCIAL HOME – 36 children and adults 7- 19 years of age, accommodated at several Centres for accommodation of a family type. We provided for them slippers, cosmetics and food for the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, and some chocolates. The Bulgarian school in Boston (USA) fundraised money for the institution to buy additional food and diapers for the disabled children. A Bulgarian artist Bojidar Dimitrov, donated a sofa for the Centre for the disable children.
Presents for all children. The children performed. The guys enjoy the new sofa!
GORSKI SENOVETS –Day care centre for 25 handicapped children and young adults “Small Sun” –, aged 8-21, with serious disabilities. The children were very excited to participate in the Christmas party and to welcome St. Clause who brought them presents. We also bought them electrical saw to cut the wood for the Centre heating.
St. Clause brought presents. The children perform dances. The new electric saw!
LUPIAN – 41 children – 6-15 years old (boarding house for low-income children). We bought them presents and IWC helped us with wrapping, transporting and distributing them to the kids.
The children were happy with the presents and the attention we paid them.
MEZDRA – Complex for children with mental and physical disabilities (55 children and adults, age 4-25, accommodated in 3 Centres, a protected house for 6 young people and transitional home for 10 adolescents. We bought them presents, fruits and some chocolates.
Party, dances and presents for all children and young people.
PLEVEN – Home for medico-social cares (80 kids, 0 – 4,5 years, more than 70% of them bed-ridden or with serious mental and physical problems. The party was attended by St. Clause who distributed toys, sweets, and chocolates to the kids. G.O.A.L. Inc provided also money for milk, needed baby’s development, formula resulting from 40 years of breast milk research. W also e bought Infantrini, for feeding infants with faltering growth. The home cannot afford to buy these products which are of great importance for the growth of the children.
The kids enjoy the Christmas party. We bought the kids presents, aptamil and infatrini.
RAZLIV – Home for children deprived of parental cares “St. Ivan Rilski” – 18 children, aged 8-19. The children performed Bulgarian Christmas traditions, songs and dances. The children got many presents and clothes. Donors from New Zealand had sent them warm hats. We also bought them much meat, sausages, salami and other food products and the children were very happy.
Performing in front of Christmas tree Presents and food for the parties. Delicious dishes!
ROMAN – Centre for social services for children and families “N.Vaptzarov” (5 Centres for accommodation of a family type and a transitional apartment for young people who are due to leave the institution, 86 children, 35 with disabilities) and 20 children from the Day Care Centre. Thanks to our friends from t Irish Orphan Appeal we organized a wonderful Christmas party for all children and the staff in a nice restaurant in Mezdra (30 km from Roman) like every year. It was a day out of the institution and the children enjoyed every minute of it. The kids looked smart, well dressed with new clothes and they enjoyed the food in the restaurant. The children surprised us with great performances. All expenses for the party, DJ, transport and the Christmas presents were covered. We also made the children wonderful presents and sweets bags. Our donors from G.O.A.L. provided food for Christmas and New Year’s Eve diners. The Irish donors bought them new warm jackets.
Dances, presents and food for the Christmas and New Year’s Eves.
SAMOKOV CENTRE FOR ACCOMMODATION OF A FAMILY TYPE. – 14 children, aged 9-16 years. We brought them presents and chocolates. They organized their party in the home and cooked themselves traditional Christmas food because they took lessons in cooking.
A lot of presents and celebrations for the Christmas Season.
STARA ZAGORA – Home for children deprived of parental cares “THEOPHANO POPOVA” Home (30 children, age 7-19, few of them with serious mental problems). We provided presents fruits, food and refreshments for the Christmas holidays. The children had prepared wonderful Christmas program with Bulgarian Christmas traditions, dances, and songs.
Girls performing! Director as Santa! Dancing
Shelter house in Sofia for adult girls, managed by Star of Hope Foundation. The flat is accommodated by young girls from Roman and Doganovo social institutions which Tabitha has supported. We provide scholarships to the students, job opportunities and some financial aid to live on.
Food was provided and they prepared nice meals for Christmas and New Year’s Eve!
VRATSA HOME for children deprived of parental cares ”Assen Zlatarov” ( 39 children, aged 6-19, few with mild mental problems). The Christmas party was in a nice restaurant of their choice with open fire. We brought pyjamas, presents and chocolates.
Happy children with presents! They performed and danced a lot
VRATZA SOCIAL COMPLEX, consisting of 3 Centres for accommodation for disabled children – 42 children and adults, aged 6 – to over 25 years. We provided food and presents for all of them. The children were happy and enjoyed the party for Christmas. Though some were in invalid chairs they were also included in the celebration. Thanks to their baba the children performed songs.
Chocolates / Snow White and Santa Claus / Enjoying the party/ Thanks to the baba – children’re performing
HAPPY CHILDREN WITH MANY PRESENTS
MANY PRESENTS, RADIANT FACES, HAPPY CHILDREN!
THANKS LETTERS FROM THE SOCIAL HOMES
MANY THANKS TO ALL DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR CONCERN, UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT.THEY HELPED THE UNDERPRIVILAGED CHILDREN AND OLD PEOPLE ENJOY THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS!
TABITHA BULGARIA FOUNDATION IS LOOKING FORWARD TO FURTHER COOPERATION IN 2018 FOR THE SAKE OF THE LESS FORTUNATE!
TABITHA BULGARIA TEAM
/ALBENA & GEORGE/