Red Cross says Thank you
Help at Home Costa Blanca were invited by Cruz Roja to a Presentation on Thursday 13th February in Alicante.
The invitation was for any people or groups who were involved in helping and assisting the Red Cross during the Dana /floods. Our President Carmen and General Secretary Patricia attended this event
Many of the services involved in the disaster were represented, including the Guardia Civil, The local police, and Fire Brigade. There were about 500 people in the audience mainly volunteers and employees of the Red Cross.
The main reason for the event, was to inform everyone about what had occurred. and what is still occurring. They showed the amounts of money involved and where the money came from and where it was spent.The Red Cross have spent 350,000euros so far and plan to spend another 250,000Euros in 2020.
On top of all the money they have raised, they have provided: furniture, Electrical goods, clothes, food, school equipment. They made a point of stating that many local people supported this collection, and distribution.
Our shop takings and the proceeds from the fundraiser we held also provided books and stationary for local schools who lost everything.
They showed a film of all the disaster zones, several Red Cross experts in planning and psychology explained some of the devastating effects for the people in our region. Including our contact in Orihuela Costa – Pilar.
We were extremely pleased to see the work that the Red Cross has undertaken, and that they plan to continue in 2020.
Cruz Roja Award 1 June 2019
Carmen Perez President and Sheila Rowell Chief Welfare Officer, represented Help at Home Costa Blanca Charity today to receive a Diploma de Honor at the Cruz Roja awards day in Altea.
This is wonderful to receive this award as we helped fund a new ambulance for the Red Cross an d then we also raised funds for 6 defibrillators and gave one to the ambulance.
With the help and support of all our volunteers and local venues including most importantly the Emerald Isle who host many of our events, Sunshine FM who compere and Stevie Spit who works tirelessly for all the charities in the Orihuela Costa.
HAHCB donated 50% Red Cross Ambulance
We welcomed the new Red Cross ambulance to this area and the Emerald Isle provided the bubbly those who attended .
The major of Orihuela attended and the Director of the Red Cross many volunteers and the generosity of the local residents and visitors to our wonderful part of Spain makes us feel eternally grateful.
A big thank you to Kathleen Vahey’s Family who came over from Ireland to be with us today.
The enourmous gratitude we feel for our volunteers and supporters who helped us achieve this fantastic result- we thank you all.
Since 2017 we started on a mission to make a tribute to Kathleen Vahey whom we sadly lost to an illness. In her memory we raised funds to purchase a mobility vehicle to help assist local people to appointments with the doctor or visit the clinic. The logistics proved to be too difficult so as a compromise we contacted the Red Cross and we donated 31,000EUR to them towards a new ambulance.
On 2nd April 2019 at 14.00 we all gathered at The Emerald Isle who have long been our supporters in our fund raising efforts.- to receive the first inspection of the new ambulance.
Sylvia our fund raiser also sold tombola and raffle prizes and we did name the soft toy Husky dog to raise money for more worthy causes.
Some happy memories below:-
Fundraiser of the Year
Fundraiser of the Year
Some great news that we have been nominated for Fundraiser of the year by the Costa Blanca People newspaper for all the Volunteers and Supporters of Help at Home Costa Blanca -we thank you all.
helping those in need
Here are some of the reasons listed below
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1 |
Cruz Roja €31,000 |
Given to the Red Cross towards buying a new ambulance. Money was collected over 2 years, by our fund raising team. They like other parts of our organisation have changed over that time, but all have had the same drive and resolve to do their best to help others. Originally we were going to purchase a van to take clients to hospital appointments, or out for the day. As we reached our target we realised that we had no need for such a vehicle, and not the infrastructure to manage it. We then discussed it with the Red Cross, but they already have a similar vehicle and asked us to consider putting the money towards an ambulance. They cost €60,000 and Orihuela needed one as they only last for 10 years. We then discussed where it would be located. At present there is not a suitable station in Orihuela Costa. However when the new services building is completed in La Zenia, there is a possibility that it can be used there. Discussions are on-going for a suitable station. The ambulance will be available for all in Orihuela and on the Costas. It will have the Help at Home Costa Blanca logo and “In memory of Kathleen Vahey” who worked constantly for our charity, and in Ireland her home country. The ambulance is currently being fitted out and should be in use this year. We will hold an event to show it off when it is completed. |
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2 |
Caritas €100 a month for several months. |
We have helped the local branch of Caritas in La Zenia. They regular supply food to those who have insufficient funds. Their person in charge is Luis who telephoned us with their requirement. We then went out and purchased the goods usually food but sometimes toiletries. We had assistance from one of our voluntary groups named the Red Hat Ladies. They continue to support us in all of our efforts. |
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3 |
San Jose Obrero €1200 |
This is called an orphanage in Spain but in fact they look after many children who are from families who are unable to cope. In general the children live there during the week, and some go home at the weekends. We have supplied them with furniture, bedding, curtains, and clothes for the children. Including new underwear. We assisted an appeal by Stevie Spit for new shoes and paid more than 50% of the cost. At Christmas we gave them Christmas stockings, and with the help of a group called the Rendezvous ladies who supplied each child with fabulous new toys. The Van was full with parcels. |
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4 |
Homeless €100-200 |
We were informed by 2 of our volunteers that there were a group of homeless men living on wasteland in Playa Flamenca. They asked if we could buy them a generator which we did. The volunteers are still involved through their church. We have occasionally helped them with food. |
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5 |
Christmas Parcels 2017 6 parcels |
At Christmas we always make parcels for our clients who do not have much money. These parcels include Chickens, Fresh Veg, Chocolates and items to make their Christmas a little more pleasant. Two families have a card for monthly purchases in the charity shop. |
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6 |
Client in Rojales €180 |
Our Quesada group asked if we could help a lady in Rojales who had her leg amputated . A local bar Goyas raised €220 and HAHCB, supplied the rest to purchase a second hand mobility scooter |
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7 |
Client in Cabo Roig €520 |
Similar situation a client was unable to move without her mobility scooter and we helped her purchase a new battery. |
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8 |
Client in Cabo Roig € 260 |
Supplied a mattress ( from our stock). Paid for glasses |
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9 |
Client in Quesada |
Client being helped from the Quesada group, who needed some immediate support we purchased food on a weekly basis just for a couple of months whilst he was waiting for financial relief. |
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10 |
Tasha Appeal |
Supported the appeal to raise funds for this campaign. |
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11 |
Nursing care €900 |
We have supported some clients over the last 12 months with payment towards nursing care. These are people who have needed personal care, and have not had sufficient funds to pay. Therefore we have worked sometimes with other charities the RBL, or Rafa to assist these clients. |
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12 |
Mission in Torrevieja |
Helped a church mission in Torrevieja with some furniture for them to give to their clients, or sell in their shop. |
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13 |
Reach Out Torrevieja €1,902 |
After a visit to their premises by Esther and Patricia we were informed that they are refurbishing their kitchen . We also noted that they do not have much spare food in their store cupboard. Help at Home CB, have now agreed to purchase an industrial cooker for them at a cost of €1,902. We are also purchasing €100 of food weekly for them. |
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14 |
Police Cars €6,400 |
With CB People, F Raising for Defibrilators 5 for the Local Police Cars. 1 for new ambulance. Aiming for €10,000. Have €8700. |
3rd July Fashion show & Red Cross Cheque
Help at Home Volunteers led by Sylvia ( Fundraiser) and Esther ( Playa Flamenca shop manager) spent many hours contacting , restaurants, shops and bars for donations for our raffle prizes helping to raise funds for the 5 defibrillators for our local first response teams.
Teams of volunteers worked tirelessly sorting out all the clothes, packing up and loading the van , delivering the clothes, the rails, tables and many items for to the Emerald isle for this big event for us.
Clothes were looked out from the Charity Shop, washed and ironed and many volunteers gave up their day and modelled the clothes for us.
The Director from Red Cross and many of his team travelled from Alicante to receive the cheque for 31,000Euros. We all raised a glass of bubbly to celebrate this magnificent achievement.
Our Charity with support from the local businesses, local residents and holiday makers donated to this excellent cause , the money was raised over 2 years from 2016-2018 with many fund raising events organised towards the cost of a new ambulance for the community ( costs 60,000 Euros).
The ambulance will have in memory of Kathleen Vahey one of our fund raising volunteers whom we sadly lost a in 2016 who worked tirelessly to help other here in Spain and further afield a true Angel on Earth.
The Cheque Presentation 31,000 Euros.
Carmen our President signing the contract with Director of Red Cross .
Thank you ,Thank you, Thank you, everyone for this tremendous effort as we raised 1,255Euro !
Our mission to buy 5 defibrillators !
We have teamed up with a few other like minded charitable organisations to raise funds to buy 5 defibrillators for our first response teams in Orihuela Costa.
There are 5 police vehicle and we are going to hold fundraising events to supply defibrillators for each car and pay for training by the Red Cross.
The lack of these machine could have contributed to lives that have been lost, so we really think this is a great cause and we need them in our police cars.
The next event is on 2nd June a Beetle Drive at the Sports Bar in Playa Flamenca
Times 6pm-8.30pm
Then a Fashion Show planned for 26th June updates will be provided soon.
Please help us raise these funds your support is crucial.