An Oliver man on a mission can’t fathom spending Christmas in Oliver knowing that 410 children in a Moldova orphanage are huddled in a freezing basement.
That’s why he spent two weeks in October repairing the orphanage’s broken windows and giving them other necessities of life.
Jeff Crowley expresses his heartfelt appreciation to everyone who donated a total of $17,500 for the cause. He spent $13,000 replacing 50 of 80 windows at the orphanage. The remaining $4,000 went towards a washing machine, deep freezer and soccer balls. He plans to return in May to finish replacing the rest of the windows.
The Republic of Moldova is a 33,800 square kilometre country situated between Romania and the Ukraine. Once part of Romania, Moldova was absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1940. It achieved independence in 1991.
Romanians and Russians comprise most of Moldova’s 4.3 million population.
Moldova’s main industries are similar to Oliver’s – agriculture and wine production. The World Bank rates Moldova as the poorest country in Europe with the official average wage about $30 a month. Much of the population lives on less than one US dollar per day.
Crowley explained that visiting the orphanage is like stepping into a time machine and going back 80 years. The building is an old abandoned military structure built in 1933. Nothing really has been fixed up since then. The children have access to cold water only, and there is no refrigerator or salt curing to preserve meat. Therefore, they have to eat whatever is killed right away, Crowley said. The main food source in winter is potatoes. “They’re still eating what people ate 50 years ago.”
He noted that each room in the orphanage houses 15-20 children. The rooms have three large windows, but some of the windows are missing, which forced the kids to huddle in the basement to find shelter from the wind. Crowley said he can now celebrate Christmas in good conscience knowing the children are warm and safe.
“It’s just the necessities of life that I’m trying to give these kids.”
Oliver Elementary teacher Erica Safek said the students found the Moldova project to be extremely valuable and rewarding because the money they raised went directly to help children in need.
The orphans sent a letter back to Safek’s Grade 5/6 class and thanked the students for their generosity.
“We are so happy to have friends in Canada who care for us and understand our need,” they wrote
Safek said it was touching to see a photo of the orphans holding a photograph of her class.
“This connection is so special. Although oceans and countries separate us, the photos remind us that we can still hold hands across the miles.”
Twelve-year-old student Sasha Lennox said her mother used to live in the Ukraine, not far from Moldova. Sasha remembered seeing kids playing in the street with string and egg cartons.
“I saw how they lived . . . we take things for granted,” Sasha said, noting she used to complain how bored she was with her own modern toys.
Fellow student Darien Carpenter said it really makes her feel good to help the orphans by sending them food, clothing and toys, along with money to replace a window.
“They know that a lot of people care half way across the world,” she said.
Megan Murray, 12, feels special for helping these children who they don’t have the luxury to live like other kids.
Murray said it was nice to see the orphans holding a photograph of the Oliver class.
Twelve-year-old Madelyn Bjornson said it makes her feel good to be able to help someone else. “I’m glad they (orphans) are going to have a good . . . warmer Christmas.”
Crowley recognized the individuals and businesses that made this happen. For example, Paul and Barb Eby from OK Photo helped him with his photographs, and dentist Jordan Noftle donated toothbrushes to children in two orphanages.
Tru Building Centre donated 40 gallons of paint, and students in Erica Safek’s class at Oliver Elementary School raised enough money to replace one of the windows in the orphanage.
Crowley needs to continue fundraising in order to finish repairing windows and meet the needs of other orphanages.
For more information on how you can donate, email Crowley at [email protected] or phone him at 250-498-3788.
You can also send donations to “For the Least of These,” at RR3, Site 1, Compartment 41, V0H 1T2 Oliver.
According to World of Moldova, the country celebrates Christmas on the night of January 6-7. One of the most common traditions is the Christmas tree, although people in Moldova usually decorate the Christmas tree on New Year’s Eve, and some call it the New Year tree. The present brought by Santa Claus are also sometimes called New Year gifts rather than Christmas gifts.
Something unique for Christmas in Moldova is the tradition of carols. The idea is that children and some adults walk door to door to congratulate their neighbors, friends or relatives with the coming of Christmas. They sing carols and receive gifts.
Many people also go to church on this day, since Christmas is a religious holiday. Others simply visit their relatives and friends to break bread together during a Christmas dinner.