Islanders donated almost 3,500 shoeboxes to families in Ukraine and Romania last Christmas.
Volunteers from Mustard Seed Jersey collected donations to fill the gift boxes – which included soap, toothpaste, toys and canned foods – in the lead up to Christmas.
A total of 3,437 shoeboxes were donated – with around 2,000 going to Romania and just over 1,000 to Ukraine.
Mustard Seed Jersey founder Rose Pallot said: “Those are the two countries where we’re sending at the moment.
“We always make sure that the boxes and whatever we send is going to be well used, so it’s important that we have really good in-country partners – and we’ve got that in those two countries.
“We do send relief aid throughout the year but it’s obviously only when we have a full trailer to send because the cost is prohibitive.”
Mustard Seed Jersey works alongside ‘daughter charity’ Mustard Seed Romania and Asociatia Schimbare de Viață – which translates to the Association for Change of Lives.
These links, alongside trusted social workers in the recipient countries, help Mustard Seed Jersey to ensure the aid is going to those who need it most.
Three volunteers from the organisation went on a trip to Romania last year.
Ms Pallot added: “In one school we were incredibly encouraged, as several of the older children had passed through the Mustard Seed kindergarten and homework club and were now able to hold their own and do well in the state school.
“It was especially rewarding for the Romanian social worker and an affirmation of his work over the years, as he saw the once-rejected Roma children that Mustard Seed had assisted now accepted and thriving in the village schools.”
She also explained that some Mustard Seed Jersey volunteers are Romanian and remember receiving shoeboxes when they were younger, so know first-hand how important the work is.
The charity also runs an ‘Adopt a Granny’ initiative, which enables people to sponsor a pensioner for around £16 to £22 per month.
“The sponsorship appeal is probably the most successful ongoing project that we’ve got,” said Ms Pallot.
“We’ve been running it for years, probably 25 years. It’s very successful. I think people can relate to it – one person helping another.
“It’s such a big help though. What we are doing is we are offering a helping hand, not paying all of people’s expenses by any means, but doing the best we can to give them the help.”
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