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Computer charity's appeal to help elderly
CHRISTMAS is little more than eight weeks away – but a Hailsham charity is keen to show the other side of the festive spirit coin.
Computers for Charities this week launched its annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal for the disadvantaged elderly both in the UK and overseas.
It sends out shoeboxes packed full of donated gifts such as warm clothing, blankets, dry food and medicines to those trying to survive on ever-diminishing resources.
The charity's chairman, Simon Rooksby, said Christmas could be a 'difficult and lonely time' for many disadvantaged people, particularly the elderly.
He said, "The current worldwide recession has impacted all levels of society, with the most under-reported being the repercussions for our elderly.
"It is so frustrating, when you encounter real need, that it is just not possible to wave a magic wand and make all well - but rather than give up, we try.
"Running our Christmas shoebox appeal for the elderly has brought encouragement for thousands of elderly folk both in the UK and overseas."
Mr Rooksby gave the example of 76-year-old Tendai, who lives in rural Zimbabwe and had been forced to bury her own children due to disease and rampant HIV/Aids. She is now the surrogate mother to her grandchildren.
Mr Rooksby said, "Continued drought in Matabeleland means that water supply is limited, affecting self-sufficiency from the growing of crops.
"Just last week, given the heat and dryness, one careless spark resulted in the loss of a whole village and their limited possessions."
Mr Rooksby said Computers for Charities would be providing support with food and clothing - and the gift of a shoebox for Tendai.
It's not just Africa where the charity is keen to make a difference. In Romania, 70-year-old Dmitri and his family live in a single-room, self built hut in the middle of a refuse site, along with 300 other people.
Mr Rooksby said all lived without electricity and running water while having to brave temperatures of minus 20 degrees in winter and 40 degrees in the summer.
Computers for Charities is currently seeking gifts shoebox gifts for both men and women, or financial support to aid the cost of distributing the shoeboxes to the many areas of need both locally and internationally.
For more information, including deadlines, please call Computers for Charities on 840641 or e-mail simon@computersforcharities.org. For more details on the charity's work, visit www.computersforcharities.org.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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