For the third year running, three ladies from Peasmarsh, Judy Pope, Sue Charman and Joan Hearne have gathered together items in shoeboxes for orphans and others in Gomel, Belarus

This started in a modest way, with some 20 boxes the first year, increasing to 160 last year and 200 boxes this year.

The boxes from Peasmarsh are filled with toiletries and toys largely provided by Judy and friends and each box included a scarf knitted by Peasmarsh ladies.

These boxes are all gift wrapped and Judy, who is the wife of Rye Lion Stuart Pope, appealed to Rye and District Lions to help with the wrapping.

Normally, these boxes are sent direct from the Rye area, but this year Rye Lions were able to offer to assist with their delivery to Gomel.

This is the ninth year that the Southeast District of the Lions have sent lorry loads of similar items there. Prior to that similar loads were sent to the needy in Croatia.

The local 200 boxes, together with over 700 books in English collected by Rye Lions, have been taken to a warehouse at Queenborough where boxes from all over the south east have been delivered by other Lions Clubs.

Conrad Freezer, from Rye Lions, said; "The boxes will be distributed to orphanages in the Gomel Region that cater for up to 200 children who live and are taught there from the age of four to 18.

"Some of the needy are genuine orphans and others are "social" orphans, because their parent are incapable of caring for them for many reasons.
"Many were driven off their land due to the Chernobyl power station accident and brought to live in the city without any chance of finding work.

"Many of the parents and children have illnesses due to the fall-out and the orphanages and schools specialise in looking after the children with challenging conditions such as sight problems, learning difficulties, blood disorders, leukaemia and thyroid problems.

"This year's shoebox appeal will touch hundreds of children and families through the Chernobyl Children's Charity and locally members of the Gomel Lions Club work closely with this charity. The lorry load will be distributed over the next two months.

"The load this year totals 8000kg with a calculated second-hand goods value of £12,500 and,if new, of the order of £50,000 at least.

"The 160 personally addressed case of goods and boxes will go to about 100 individual addresses in schools, orphanages, kindergartens - two of which still operate in the contaminated zone - large destitute and single parent families.

"The Rye Lions English books go to one particular school. Another school, where the Lions have set up a Lions Centre of Excellence for Children's Eye Disorders, will also receive technical books requested by their ophthalmologist.

"The lorry load includes 28 computers and laptops, plus computer spares and printers, toiletries, toys, clothing, canned food, stationery, bicycles, hand tools and a miscellany of other items of everyday life, sorely needed there.

"On past experience, they will be overjoyed to receive them. Rye and District Lions have also contributed towards the fuel and accommodation for the lorry and its crew."