Santiago de Compostela - Help to Help My Neighbours

[SYates]

Help to Help My Neighbors

First of all, I am posting this with @ivar's permission here, despite the fact that I am really not a 'Camino Business'.

Second, the long story can be read here: http://egeria.house/egeria-house-version-3-or-so/

The short story is this:

Since I moved to Santiago in May 2017 there have always been people knocking at my door asking for food.

Pre-Covid that happened around 2-3 times a month.
Now it is a nearly daily occurrence.
Yes, Spain has a social security net.
Yes but, people are still falling through the gaps of it.

I provide, at the moment, two extended families (around 12-15 people in total) with additional food help plus face masks and hygiene products like soap and hand sanitizer.

My own income from freelance writing has done a deep dip with the pandemic, but so have my expenses ;-) So I really could do with some help to continue to help my neighbours.

There are the ones that begged around the cathedral and old town even pre-covid, the lock down and lack of visitors have hid them hard.

Donations are needed for:

Fresh fruit and vegetables
Face masks and hand soap
Salt-free/reduced-in-salt food for one of them with severe diabetes related health issues
Baby care products like wipes and diapers/nappies for both families's grand children
Pantry staples like tinned vegetables, pasta and everything that cooks quickly (power poverty!)

Something extra to make their Christmas less dire …

Thank you from Santiago de Compostela, SY

So, if you want me to help others, the PayPal link is https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

If you want to venture in the realm of international bank transfer, please PM me.

Also, any questions, please ask them in a comment or via PM.

And, please stay physically apart from each other, so that when we can finally meet again – NOBODY is missing!

BC SY

Photo Captions of the neighbourhood pantry:

1. At the end of the week
2. Start of the week
3. Pick-up box for neighbours

 

[Robo]

Done. Thank You for posting this @SYates

 

[SYates]

Done. Thank You for posting this @SYates

Thank you @Robo!
BC SY

 

[henrythedog]

Thank you @Robo!
BC SY

Donation inbound - in the name of David S. Henry, being a dog, doesn’t have a bank account.

 

[Josè Emmanuel]

Done via Paypal. God bless you for doing this.

~ Joey

 

[kirkie]

Thanks for this opportunity to share.

 

[Levi]

Done via PayPal. Thanks for all you do.

 

[camino07]

Done. Thanks for helping those less fortunate.

 

[Marbe2]

Thank you for yor kindness to others!

 

[pelerine]

Done via Paypal! Lots of courage for what you do!
Stay safe!
Ina

 

[WildPlace]

Done via PayPal, just a small donation at this time, I'll send more next time if I can, thank you for what you do

 

[thistleamy]

Thank you for all you do for others during this time - our world needs more you... donation sent via paypal.

 

[AndreaCT]

Done. Thanks for doing this Sybille! I love your ministry!

 

[Pilar]

Gracias

 

[Ekelund]

Thank you for posting this, Sybil.
All the best to you.

 

[SYates]

Thanks everybody for your kind words and donations! And please, do NOT donate if you're struggling yourself.
I'll send everybody an email/PM over the next few days so that you know all has arrived safely.
Again, many muchas gracias for helping me to help others!

Hugs from Santiago, SY

 

[Ellen Gotts]

Thank you for all you do Sybil
Blessings

 

[Jenyat53]

Done and dusted. Gracias por haciéndolo.

 

[john newman]

Done
I missed the opportunity to see you when I arrived in SDC last July (2019). I thought there would be other opportunities, now I’m not so sure.
Thank you for your work.
John

 

[RicardoCostaMesa]

Help to Help My Neighbors

First of all, I am posting this with @ivar's permission here, despite the fact that I am really not a 'Camino Business'.

Second, the long story can be read here: http://egeria.house/egeria-house-version-3-or-so/

The short story is this:

Since I moved to Santiago in May 2017 there have always been people knocking at my door asking for food.

Pre-Covid that happened around 2-3 times a month.
Now it is a nearly daily occurrence.
Yes, Spain has a social security net.
Yes but, people are still falling through the gaps of it.

I provide, at the moment, two extended families (around 12-15 people in total) with additional food help plus face masks and hygiene products like soap and hand sanitizer.

My own income from freelance writing has done a deep dip with the pandemic, but so have my expenses ;-) So I really could do with some help to continue to help my neighbours.

There are the ones that begged around the cathedral and old town even pre-covid, the lock down and lack of visitors have hid them hard.

Donations are needed for:

Fresh fruit and vegetables
Face masks and hand soap
Salt-free/reduced-in-salt food for one of them with severe diabetes related health issues
Baby care products like wipes and diapers/nappies for both families's grand children
Pantry staples like tinned vegetables, pasta and everything that cooks quickly (power poverty!)

Something extra to make their Christmas less dire …

Thank you from Santiago de Compostela, SY

So, if you want me to help others, the PayPal link is https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

If you want to venture in the realm of international bank transfer, please PM me.

Also, any questions, please ask them in a comment or via PM.

And, please stay physically apart from each other, so that when we can finally meet again – NOBODY is missing!

BC SY

Photo Captions of the neighbourhood pantry:

1. At the end of the week
2. Start of the week
3. Pick-up box for neighbours

done... thanks for doing this!

 

[nollaigc]

Done
Keep up the great work
Noel

 

[alexwalker]

Done.

Next time, tapas.

 

[Elmundodemone]

Done, thank you very much for your work. All the best for you and your neighbors, for Spain and the whole world. I hope this nightmare will end soon and we all can meet again, some day

 

[Massey]

I hope this buys some more manzanas!
This a big problem everywhere. I’m in a small group in the UK we try to help local charities.We recently had a zoom talk with a local headmaster,we were quite shocked to hear of problems some families are having. People are very generous and are very willing to help as we can also see here .

 

[SYates]

Done.

Next time, tapas.

Invito yo!
BC SY

 

[SYates]

I hope this buys some more manzanas!
This a big problem everywhere. I’m in a small group in the UK we try to help local charities.We recently had a zoom talk with a local headmaster,we were quite shocked to hear of problems some families are having. People are very generous and are very willing to help as we can also see here .

Yes, the same problem everywhere, I am in contact with quite a few people that run small or big food banks in their own countries/towns and the message is always the same 'demand way up, donations down'. A school in Madrid, inner city, became a food bank for 2 000 families (with the help of local business people) because the head mistress couldn't bear it not to help, so she organized her school into a food bank.

My little neighbourhood pantry is obviously far, far smaller and I thank all of you that have already donated. I also would like you to know, whilst the need is obviously ongoing, and will be so for some time to come, thanks to your donations my neighbours are now safe food and face mask etc wise until well into the next year.
So, unless your are swimming in money and have nobody else to give it to - please stop donating to this cause now ;-)

Instead, please consider donating to your own local food bank (or increasing your donation if you're already doing so).

And, if you feel confident to do so and there is a need, do set up your own local, neighbourhood food bank.

All blessings and prayers from Santiago, SY

 

[Marbe2]

Yes, the same problem everywhere, I am in contact with quite a few people that run small or big food banks in their own countries/towns and the message is always the same 'demand way up, donations down'. A school in Madrid, inner city, became a food bank for 2 000 families (with the help of local business people) because the head mistress couldn't bear it not to help, so she organized her school into a food bank.

My little neighbourhood pantry is obviously far, far smaller and I thank all of you that have already donated. I also would like you to know, whilst the need is obviously ongoing, and will be so for some time to come, thanks to your donations my neighbours are now safe food and face mask etc wise until well into the next year.
So, unless your are swimming in money and have nobody else to give it to - please stop donating to this cause now ;-)

Instead, please consider donating to your own local food bank (or increasing your donation if you're already doing so).

And, if you feel confident to do so and there is a need, do set up your own local, neighbourhood food bank.

All blessings and prayers from Santiago, SY

Post again, when you need additional funds!

 

[henrythedog]

Post again, when you need additional funds!

Yes, just speak up Sybille - I’m sure many of us would happily contribute if the cupboard is starting to look bare.

 

[SYates]

Post again, when you need additional funds!

Will do, but for the moment, everybody is well cared for. But over the next few days/weeks I will also post some pictures here so that you can see where and how your kind donations ended up to be used!

Hugs from Santiago to everybody, SY

 

[willydp]

Nice initiative, stay strong and keep up the good work S
Done today

 

[SYates]

Post again, when you need additional funds!

Will do, but for the moment, everybody is well cared for. But over the next few days/weeks I will also post some pictures here so that you can see where and how your kind donations ended up to be used!

Hugs from Santiago to everybody, SY

 

[linkster]

A little late to the party, but the donation has been sent via PayPal. Thanks for helping!

 

[mvanert]

Help to Help My Neighbors

First of all, I am posting this with @ivar's permission here, despite the fact that I am really not a 'Camino Business'.

Second, the long story can be read here: http://egeria.house/egeria-house-version-3-or-so/

The short story is this:

Since I moved to Santiago in May 2017 there have always been people knocking at my door asking for food.

Pre-Covid that happened around 2-3 times a month.
Now it is a nearly daily occurrence.
Yes, Spain has a social security net.
Yes but, people are still falling through the gaps of it.

I provide, at the moment, two extended families (around 12-15 people in total) with additional food help plus face masks and hygiene products like soap and hand sanitizer.

My own income from freelance writing has done a deep dip with the pandemic, but so have my expenses ;-) So I really could do with some help to continue to help my neighbours.

There are the ones that begged around the cathedral and old town even pre-covid, the lock down and lack of visitors have hid them hard.

Donations are needed for:

Fresh fruit and vegetables
Face masks and hand soap
Salt-free/reduced-in-salt food for one of them with severe diabetes related health issues
Baby care products like wipes and diapers/nappies for both families's grand children
Pantry staples like tinned vegetables, pasta and everything that cooks quickly (power poverty!)

Something extra to make their Christmas less dire …

Thank you from Santiago de Compostela, SY

So, if you want me to help others, the PayPal link is https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

If you want to venture in the realm of international bank transfer, please PM me.

Also, any questions, please ask them in a comment or via PM.

And, please stay physically apart from each other, so that when we can finally meet again – NOBODY is missing!

BC SY

Photo Captions of the neighbourhood pantry:

1. At the end of the week
2. Start of the week
3. Pick-up box for neighbours

May I suggest you set up a Patreon account that way people who wish to donate on a monthly basis can?

 

[SYates]

May I suggest you set up a Patreon account that way people who wish to donate on a monthly basis can?

Nice idea, but those who wish to do so, could simply put a reminder in their phone or paper calendar ;-) Hugs from Santiago, SY

 

[OzAnnie]

Something extra to make their Christmas less dire …

So, if you want me to help others, the PayPal link is https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

Christmas is nigh Sybille -You are an angel ... I hope the PayPal thing worked ! so that you can help some more of those around you in need of Christmas cheer ...

Annie

 

[trecile]

Christmas is nigh Sybille -You are an angel ... I hope the PayPal thing worked ! so that you can help some more of those around you in need of Christmas cheer ...

Annie

Thanks for the reminder. ¡Feliz Navidad @SYates y vecinos!

 

[SYates]

Thank you everybody that has donated, my neighbours will have a great Christmas and New Year thanks to all of you! I am woefully behind writing all the thank you emails, but here are some photos from yesterday showing the well stuffed pantry for them (more goodies in fridge and freezer, but I didn't photograph those). Just one note, until you really can spare the money and have nobody and no other charity to give it to, please stop donating ;-) My neighbours will be in good food and health care products for a long time to come thanks to all of you!
Blessings from Santiago to you and yours, SY

 

[VNwalking]

Sybille, thank you for walking the talk. It really warms the heart. And I love how organized your setup clearly is. You may live in Spain, but you are still German.

 

[SYates]

Sybille, thank you for walking the talk. It really warms the heart. And I love how organized your setup clearly is. You may live in Spain, but you are still German.

Yes, I am ;-) As both families have very different needs, not to mention the 'random knock at the door' people this is necessary ;-) but I enjoy doing this. Just put in another order to Froiz (local super market) to be delivered tomorrow as there are limits to how much I can carry. Thank you again to everybody that helps with this, it's very much appreciated by the families, who, btw, know that I am only the one that 'channels' this help from you to them ...

Stay safe and sane everybody and let's hope 2021 will be a tad easier on all of us ...
SY

 

[SYates]

Please forgive me as I still haven't caught up with all the Thank You emails! But, please know, that each Euro/Dollar/Pound donated has been and will be converted into help for my neighbours. Thank you for your patience and I promise, I will acknowledge each single donation via email!

SY

 

[SYates]

Oh, and please, if you can join the movement of Little Free Pantries. Mine is here: http://mapping.littlefreepantry.org/pantry/1819 Would love to see yours!
SY

 

[alexwalker]

Always ready for you as I best can, Sybille.

Hoping for a better New Year for you and us all.

Edit: I take it you need things for your gift box? If so, I have plenty to contribute.

 

[SYates]

The box is fine just now for food and hygiene products, warm clothes are also covered. If there is any more/new need I come back and post it here ;-)
SY

 

[Robo]

The box is fine just now for food and hygiene products, warm clothes are also covered. If there is any more/new need I come back and post it here ;-)
SY

Good work @SYates. Please ask and remind us when you need more help.

 

[trecile]

Oh, and please, if you can join the movement of Little Free Pantries. Mine is here: http://mapping.littlefreepantry.org/pantry/1819 Would love to see yours!
SY

Thank you for this link

 

[SYates]

Good work @SYates. Please ask and remind us when you need more help.

I will do that, but all covered at the moment!
SY

 

[SYates]

For whatever reason I can't update my first post in this thread, so here the

February Update:

Thanks to all your generosity my little neighborhood pantry is now well funded until at least early summer - Happy Dance!

So, for the moment, please donate to somebody else!

Because you were all so generous I was able to purchase two nice shelves additionally to the usual staples (photos below). This is making my life so much easier and the storage so more organized plus I got some exercise yesterday putting them up. Thank you all again for helping with this! Hugs from Santiago, SY

 

[SYates]

Update from the Little Neighborhood Pantry in Santiago:

As @Marbe2 @henrythedog @Robo have encouraged me to do, I am posting again as there are now 4 families with a total of 16 people that rely on my little neighborhood pantry for help with their basic needs.

As it's spring my emphasis is now even more on providing them with fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruit. Thankfully a local shop has a brilliant scheme that aims to connect local farmers to buyers. So, every Wednesday I get a wonderful box of fresh goodies (photo below post) delivered to my place.

Every Sunday I put in an online order with the staples I know I will need for the coming week. This week needs have been a bit over average, so I put in my order a couple of days earlier. Again, photos below.

Obviously all interactions are done 'Covid safe', as at least one of my neighbors has a close to zero chance to survive the virus if she gets it. And vaccination is going slow-ish (but finally picking up speed thankfully) here in Spain. And no, I am not vaccinated yet, still waiting to get that SMS to calls me in.

So, here is my usual rhythm of the week/day:

Sundays (or earlier if needed, like today): Online order of pantry staples for the next day and fresh fruit/vegetables to cover until Thursday morning.

Delivery Day: Sorting things, shelving them making sure 'first in, first out' - basic food safety is observed.

Wednesday: Delivery of fresh fruit&veggies box and sorting it and storing things safely.

Every day: Filling the distribution box in the house entrance (all these families are related and visit each other regularly, so surface transmission via the box isn't a concern at all).
Answering the door bell, everybody fully masked obviously, letting people choose and asking them if they need something else.

Rinse and repeat ;-)

Oh, and because I love gardening I have also taken up to grow plants for my neighbors and put them in a 'free box' before the house. It's great fun to hear the kids choose one and to hear their comments like 'Oh, I already have a dwarf sunflower, but I will take this Calendula plant today!' Anything to cheer up the neighborhood and help people through these difficult times ...

So, if you want to help me to continue to help others and to cheer up the neighborhood, the PayPal link is still https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

I have also added a donation button to my website http://egeria.house/ (top right corner) where people can donate with their debit/credit card.

If you want to venture in the realm of international bank transfer, please PM me for details.

I think that is all, any questions, please ask them in a comment or via PM and now the promised photos:

1, Typical state of shelves by the end of the week.
2. Monday delivery has come in ;-)
3. Potatoes and milk stay downstairs as they anyway 'fly out of the house' quickly.
4. My 'free plants' box before the house - so far 100+ little plants have gone to a new home ;-)
5. The Wednesday delivery, a still-life of yummy, fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables that have been locally grown.
6. The distribution box.

Many Muchas Gracias for reading this rather long post, SY

 

[Levi]

I've sent a little something...so glad to help the good work @SYates

 

[alexwalker]

Assistance is on its way.

 

[willydp]

Send a little your way
Carpe Diem

 

[alexwalker]

Update from the Little Neighborhood Pantry in Santiago:

As @Marbe2 @henrythedog @Robo have encouraged me to do, I am posting again as there are now 4 families with a total of 16 people that rely on my little neighborhood pantry for help with their basic needs.

As it's spring my emphasis is now even more on providing them with fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruit. Thankfully a local shop has a brilliant scheme that aims to connect local farmers to buyers. So, every Wednesday I get a wonderful box of fresh goodies (photo below post) delivered to my place.

Every Sunday I put in an online order with the staples I know I will need for the coming week. This week needs have been a bit over average, so I put in my order a couple of days earlier. Again, photos below.

Obviously all interactions are done 'Covid safe', as at least one of my neighbors has a close to zero chance to survive the virus if she gets it. And vaccination is going slow-ish (but finally picking up speed thankfully) here in Spain. And no, I am not vaccinated yet, still waiting to get that SMS to calls me in.

So, here is my usual rhythm of the week/day:

Sundays (or earlier if needed, like today): Online order of pantry staples for the next day and fresh fruit/vegetables to cover until Thursday morning.

Delivery Day: Sorting things, shelving them making sure 'first in, first out' - basic food safety is observed.

Wednesday: Delivery of fresh fruit&veggies box and sorting it and storing things safely.

Every day: Filling the distribution box in the house entrance (all these families are related and visit each other regularly, so surface transmission via the box isn't a concern at all).
Answering the door bell, everybody fully masked obviously, letting people choose and asking them if they need something else.

Rinse and repeat ;-)

Oh, and because I love gardening I have also taken up to grow plants for my neighbors and put them in a 'free box' before the house. It's great fun to hear the kids choose one and to hear their comments like 'Oh, I already have a dwarf sunflower, but I will take this Calendula plant today!' Anything to cheer up the neighborhood and help people through these difficult times ...

So, if you want to help me to continue to help others and to cheer up the neighborhood, the PayPal link is still https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

I have also added a donation button to my website http://egeria.house/ (top right corner) where people can donate with their debit/credit card.

If you want to venture in the realm of international bank transfer, please PM me for details.

I think that is all, any questions, please ask them in a comment or via PM and now the promised photos:

1, Typical state of shelves by the end of the week.
2. Monday delivery has come in ;-)
3. Potatoes and milk stay downstairs as they anyway 'fly out of the house' quickly.
4. My 'free plants' box before the house - so far 100+ little plants have gone to a new home ;-)
5. The Wednesday delivery, a still-life of yummy, fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables that have been locally grown.
6. The distribution box.

Many Muchas Gracias for reading this rather long post, SY


View attachment 100141 View attachment 100142 View attachment 100143 View attachment 100144 View attachment 100145 View attachment 100146

Hopefully, we can soon enjoy a glass of Rioja & tapas in Santiago, amiga. And hopefully, you'll get the resources you need for helping your less fortunate. Bless you.

 

[SYates]

Hopefully, we can soon enjoy a glass of Rioja & tapas in Santiago, amiga. And hopefully, you'll get the resources you need for helping your less fortunate. Bless you.

So looking forward to meeting you again! Cheers to hope!
SY

 

[Marbe2]

Thank you and blessings on you and your ministry!

...and I like the new shelving...easier to keep disinfected....

 

[SYates]

...and I like the new shelving...easier to keep disinfected....

Absolutely and also easier to keep things organized and to see what is not short supply and what not!
SY

 

[kirkie]

Thank you for update, and opportunity to give a little something.

 

[VNwalking]

You are a one-woman neighborhood blessing, @SYates ! Beautiful.
I look forward to seeing this in person...maybe someday.

 

[SYates]

You are a one-woman neighborhood blessing, @SYates ! Beautiful.
I look forward to seeing this in person...maybe someday.

Hoping to see you very soon again my friend!
BC SY

 

[henrythedog]

Donation inbound. Keep up the good work. David S

 

[RicardoCostaMesa]

Glad to be following this thread... another reminder to continue to donate to a great cause... thanks for all you do @SYates

 

[linkster]

Like it I do ... via paypal.

 

[alexwalker]

Knowing you .I am happy for all you receive. good woman.

 

[Ekelund]

Thank you for what, you are doing! Bless you for your work.
All the best to you.

 

[Josè Emmanuel]

Help to Help My Neighbors

First of all, I am posting this with @ivar's permission here, despite the fact that I am really not a 'Camino Business'.

Second, the long story can be read here: http://egeria.house/egeria-house-version-3-or-so/

The short story is this:

Since I moved to Santiago in May 2017 there have always been people knocking at my door asking for food.

Pre-Covid that happened around 2-3 times a month.
Now it is a nearly daily occurrence.
Yes, Spain has a social security net.
Yes but, people are still falling through the gaps of it.

I provide, at the moment, two extended families (around 12-15 people in total) with additional food help plus face masks and hygiene products like soap and hand sanitizer.

My own income from freelance writing has done a deep dip with the pandemic, but so have my expenses ;-) So I really could do with some help to continue to help my neighbours.

There are the ones that begged around the cathedral and old town even pre-covid, the lock down and lack of visitors have hid them hard.

Donations are needed for:

Fresh fruit and vegetables
Face masks and hand soap
Salt-free/reduced-in-salt food for one of them with severe diabetes related health issues
Baby care products like wipes and diapers/nappies for both families's grand children
Pantry staples like tinned vegetables, pasta and everything that cooks quickly (power poverty!)

Something extra to make their Christmas less dire …

Thank you from Santiago de Compostela, SY

So, if you want me to help others, the PayPal link is https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

If you want to venture in the realm of international bank transfer, please PM me.

Also, any questions, please ask them in a comment or via PM.

And, please stay physically apart from each other, so that when we can finally meet again – NOBODY is missing!

BC SY

Photo Captions of the neighbourhood pantry:

1. At the end of the week
2. Start of the week
3. Pick-up box for neighbours

 

[Josè Emmanuel]

Sent. God bless...

 

[SYates]

Sent. God bless...

Thank you and everybody that has contributed!
BC SY

 

[Robo]

Sent. Keep up the great work @SYates .

 

[Marbe2]

Let is know know how things are going!

 

[SYates]

Let is know know how things are going!

Will do! Thanks!
SY

 

[nollaigc]

Help to Help My Neighbors

First of all, I am posting this with @ivar's permission here, despite the fact that I am really not a 'Camino Business'.

Second, the long story can be read here: http://egeria.house/egeria-house-version-3-or-so/

The short story is this:

Since I moved to Santiago in May 2017 there have always been people knocking at my door asking for food.

Pre-Covid that happened around 2-3 times a month.
Now it is a nearly daily occurrence.
Yes, Spain has a social security net.
Yes but, people are still falling through the gaps of it.

I provide, at the moment, two extended families (around 12-15 people in total) with additional food help plus face masks and hygiene products like soap and hand sanitizer.

My own income from freelance writing has done a deep dip with the pandemic, but so have my expenses ;-) So I really could do with some help to continue to help my neighbours.

There are the ones that begged around the cathedral and old town even pre-covid, the lock down and lack of visitors have hid them hard.

Donations are needed for:

Fresh fruit and vegetables
Face masks and hand soap
Salt-free/reduced-in-salt food for one of them with severe diabetes related health issues
Baby care products like wipes and diapers/nappies for both families's grand children
Pantry staples like tinned vegetables, pasta and everything that cooks quickly (power poverty!)

Something extra to make their Christmas less dire …

Thank you from Santiago de Compostela, SY

So, if you want me to help others, the PayPal link is https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

If you want to venture in the realm of international bank transfer, please PM me.

Also, any questions, please ask them in a comment or via PM.

And, please stay physically apart from each other, so that when we can finally meet again – NOBODY is missing!

BC SY

Photo Captions of the neighbourhood pantry:

1. At the end of the week
2. Start of the week
3. Pick-up box for neighbours

Done Keep up the good work

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Hi Sybille! Am unable to use PayPal. Do you have any other options? You can e-mail me
s.nicholls@gmx.co.uk

 

[SYates]

Hi Sybille! Am unable to use PayPal. Do you have any other options? You can e-mail me
s.nicholls@gmx.co.uk

Hi @Stephen Nicholls and everybody else,

On the top of the sidebar of my website http://egeria.house/ are donation buttons you can use to donate by credit/debit card without the need to go through Paypal but I will also email you my bank details ;-)
Many thanks!
SY

 

[Joergen]

Sent, thanks for doing it.

 

[OzAnnie]

Update from the Little Neighborhood Pantry in Santiago:

As @Marbe2 @henrythedog @Robo have encouraged me to do, I am posting again as there are now 4 families with a total of 16 people that rely on my little neighborhood pantry for help with their basic needs.

As it's spring my emphasis is now even more on providing them with fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruit. Thankfully a local shop has a brilliant scheme that aims to connect local farmers to buyers. So, every Wednesday I get a wonderful box of fresh goodies (photo below post) delivered to my place.

Every Sunday I put in an online order with the staples I know I will need for the coming week. This week needs have been a bit over average, so I put in my order a couple of days earlier. Again, photos below.

Obviously all interactions are done 'Covid safe', as at least one of my neighbors has a close to zero chance to survive the virus if she gets it. And vaccination is going slow-ish (but finally picking up speed thankfully) here in Spain. And no, I am not vaccinated yet, still waiting to get that SMS to calls me in.

So, here is my usual rhythm of the week/day:

Sundays (or earlier if needed, like today): Online order of pantry staples for the next day and fresh fruit/vegetables to cover until Thursday morning.

Delivery Day: Sorting things, shelving them making sure 'first in, first out' - basic food safety is observed.

Wednesday: Delivery of fresh fruit&veggies box and sorting it and storing things safely.

Every day: Filling the distribution box in the house entrance (all these families are related and visit each other regularly, so surface transmission via the box isn't a concern at all).
Answering the door bell, everybody fully masked obviously, letting people choose and asking them if they need something else.

Rinse and repeat ;-)

Oh, and because I love gardening I have also taken up to grow plants for my neighbors and put them in a 'free box' before the house. It's great fun to hear the kids choose one and to hear their comments like 'Oh, I already have a dwarf sunflower, but I will take this Calendula plant today!' Anything to cheer up the neighborhood and help people through these difficult times ...

So, if you want to help me to continue to help others and to cheer up the neighborhood, the PayPal link is still https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EgeriaHouseSantiago

I have also added a donation button to my website http://egeria.house/ (top right corner) where people can donate with their debit/credit card.

If you want to venture in the realm of international bank transfer, please PM me for details.

I think that is all, any questions, please ask them in a comment or via PM and now the promised photos:

1, Typical state of shelves by the end of the week.
2. Monday delivery has come in ;-)
3. Potatoes and milk stay downstairs as they anyway 'fly out of the house' quickly.
4. My 'free plants' box before the house - so far 100+ little plants have gone to a new home ;-)
5. The Wednesday delivery, a still-life of yummy, fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables that have been locally grown.
6. The distribution box.

Many Muchas Gracias for reading this rather long post, SY


View attachment 100141 View attachment 100142 View attachment 100143 View attachment 100144 View attachment 100145 View attachment 100146

Hi @SYates
Sybille - I’m a little slow off the mark sending my contribution .
I really hope things are swinging around for the better now & it must help having a lovely warm season to bring cheer & sunshine to you all.
Just sent something via PayPal.
Love to you and your neighbours
Annie x

 

[SYates]

Hi @SYates
Sybille - I’m a little slow off the mark sending my contribution .
I really hope things are swinging around for the better now & it must help having a lovely warm season to bring cheer & sunshine to you all.
Just sent something via PayPal.
Love to you and your neighbours
Annie x

Thank you Annie! It has arrived safely! Many Muchas Gracias in the name of my neighbours!
BC SY and hope to see you soon in Santiago!

 

[Marbe2]

@SYates!
How are things going?

 

[SYates]

@SYates!
How are things going?

Steadily ;-) I plan to run another Facebook fundraiser for Saint James Day, to 'spread the load'. No big changes. Thank you for asking.
BC SY

 

[Marbe2]

Steadily ;-) I plan to run another Facebook fundraiser for Saint James Day, to 'spread the load'. No big changes. Thank you for asking.
BC SY

Post here too for St James Feast day!

 

[RicardoCostaMesa]

Glad to be following this thread... another reminder to continue to donate to a great cause... thanks for all you do @SYates

 

[SYates]

Post here too for St James Feast day!

Here you go:

Short version:

Please help me to continue to help my neighbors here in Santiago (background story here: http://egeria.house/egeria-house-version-3-or-so/ to have a great feast for Saint James Day and also to provide food security for them in the weeks and months to come. Every little helps – a lot!

Ongoing – Neighborhood Pantry Fundraiser

Please help me to continue to help my neighbors here in Santiago (background story here: to have a great feast for Saint James Day and also to provide food security for them in the weeks and months…

egeria.house

Long version:

Santiago Day – Neighborhood Pantry Fundraiser​

Please help me to continue to help my neighbors here in Santiago (background story here: http://egeria.house/egeria-house-version-3-or-so/ to have a great feast for Saint James Day and also to provide food security for them in the weeks and months to come. Every little helps – a lot!
What your donations will be used for:
Most importantly, good food like fresh fruit and vegetables plus stables like milk, pasta, rice, canned pulses and the like.

Photo caption: Daily box for one family … Covid-safe pick-up for up, four families a day at the moment.

One of my neighbors has special dietary needs due to diabetes and related complications (heart/kidneys) so a lot of special food (salt and sugar free mostly) is required.
Basic house cleaning products (washing up liquid, bleach, floor cleaner) plus face masks, hand soap and sanitizer to keep them and everybody in the neighborhood safe.
Diapers/nappies, baby soap and so on for their (grand) children.
I also want to move furniture, again!, to free a bedroom in the flat and to create a better storage space (the hallway is getting crowded!) and I would like to add more shelves to it to accommodate in kind donations of clothes, books, and toys etc that are already coming in via various sources.
Decent clothes are very important to maintain people’s dignity and to increase their chances of finding a job. Like it or not, clothes make the (wo)man – that is the reality.
I also want to continue to grow plants (herbs, flowers and edibles) for my neighbours to cheer them up. Low income families simply don’t have the resources to do that themselves but they really do appreciate the possibility to just pick up some free plants from the box on my door step. So far I have distributed 250+ plants this year, hopefully enabling kids to observe and learn how plants grow.

As it is the feast of Saint James this Sunday, I really want to add some extra ‘treats’ like Tarta de Santiago and children’s toys because I strongly believe that if you live in Santiago, you should be able to celebrate and enjoy this day, especially in a Holy Year!, no matter your income level.
As for pilgrims, I continue to help them online plus I have given those that ‘knocked at the door’ gear and food as needed since the pandemic started. Granted, very few did so, but those I helped were in need.
Once I am fully vaccinated, which should be end of August, I plan to offer again hospitality to pilgrims in need aka those without resources. I do NOT plan to make any competition to existing albergues/hostels/hotels and the like, as they are already fighting for their survival and that of their families. But if it will be the choice between ‘under the bridge/on the streets’, or Egeria House, I will be open for them in future with no questions asked.
Ways you can help:
You can use this direct link to donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/EgeriaHouseSantiago

Or on http://egeria.house, go to the top right corner and you’ll find the donation buttons that allows you to donate directly with your debit/credit card or PP account.

If you prefer to use (Transfer)Wise just just contact me for my details via any of this ways: http://egeria.house/contact/ or via private message on this forum.

If you can’t donate, please share this post via social media.

Thank you in the name of my neighbors for all your ongoing help during this, continuing, challenging times for all of us, SY

 

[henrythedog]

Donation inbound. Feliz dia de Santiago.

 

[SYates]

Donation inbound. Feliz dia de Santiago.

Igualmente y Muchas Gracias!
SY

 

[Marbe2]

Thank You for your labor of love…Happy Feast Day from Pennsylvania!

 

[SYates]

Thank You for your labor of love…Happy Feast Day from Pennsylvania!

Happy Feast Day to you and yours too!
BC SY

 

[Faye Walker]

Hoping the families can enjoy the Feast Day, and the other days of the year as well. Sent my donation from Ontario.

 

[SYates]

Thank you once more for all your donations! I hope/think I have now caught up with all the Thank You emails/messages. If you haven't received one, please forgive me! My email inbox is my personal nightmare in these time when so much has moved online.

On a more positive note: I have received my second jab/shot last week and I am slowly meeting up with pilgrims again. Hopefully by the end of next week I have a room prepared for 'emergency pilgrims', meaning pilgrims that find themselves without a bed and without the means to pay for one here in Santiago. If you can pay for a bed in an albergue/hostal/pension/hotel, please do so as local businesses means real people that need to feed their families. My room will be strictly and only for emergency cases that otherwise would have to sleep 'under the bridge'.

If you need my help with anything else here in Santiago, you know where to find me and how to contact me ;-)

BC SY

 

[SYates]

Quick update: I moved furniture around, again, and that is now how it looks like. I am also getting quite a bit of local, in kind, donations, in that are also stored in the room until they are distributed:
BC from Santiago SY

 

[SYates]

This article from a respected newspaper here in Galicia explains perfectly the situation and why I continue to do what I do since more then a year. Translation below: https://www.elespanol.com/quincemil...-de-la-infancia-en-galicia-se-situa-en-el-335

Translation:

The risk of poverty and social exclusion of children in Galicia stands at 33.5%. Some 127,355 children live in households below the poverty line, in a situation of material deprivation or in households without employment or with low labour intensity.

Coinciding with the start of the school year, the NGO Educo warns that the backpacks of Galicia's children are increasingly empty and that it is urgent to reverse this situation and fill them with investment.

In the last year, the risk of poverty or social exclusion of children in Galicia increased by 7.5 points, reaching 33.5% of children under 18 years of age. Some 127,355 children live in households below the poverty line, in a situation of material deprivation (which includes aspects such as difficulties in coping with unforeseen events or paying for basic supplies) or in households without employment or with low labour intensity.

"In this back-to-school context, putting the focus on children's rights continues to be a major pending issue", says Pilar Orenes, Educo's Director General. "If we want to live in a society that promotes social justice and believes in the transformative power of education, we cannot allow the gap in inequalities to become deeper and deeper.

Increase of 7.5 points and above the state average

Since 2016, the risk of poverty or exclusion of children in this autonomous community increased 7.5 points, and places it, after many years, above the state average, at 31.1% of girls and boys.

While in 2016, 27% were in this situation, now one in three children are in this situation. In one year, 27,459 more children live in Galicia at risk of poverty, and together with the Balearic Islands and Cantabria, it is one of the autonomous communities in which child poverty and exclusion increased the most in the last year.

Children continue to represent the group most affected by the lack of access to resources such as adequate food or being able to enjoy at least a week's holiday away from home. At 33.5 per cent, the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate for children is 7.8 points higher than that of the general population, which is 25.7 per cent.

With regard to material deprivation of children, which measures aspects such as households with children under 18 years of age that cannot cope with unforeseen events, keep their homes at an adequate temperature or cannot eat meat or fish every other day, in Galicia it also increased in the last year from 7.7% to 14.9%.

The percentage of households where children and adolescents live that cannot cope with unforeseen events (set at 650€ without resorting to credit) increased from 25.4% to 30.5%. Similarly, the number of households with children in arrears in the payment of basic utilities in the main dwelling, such as rent, mortgage, electricity, gas or community charges, increased from 4.6% to 8.4%.

Also, a total of 105,131 households with children under the age of 18 have difficulties making ends meet, 13,419 more households than last year.

 

[VNwalking]

33.5%

!!! That's one out of every three.

it is one of the autonomous communities in which child poverty and exclusion increased the most in the last year.

You are doing such good work, @SYates .
Gracias.

 

[SYates]

I am not doing it alone, @VNwalking as you well know ;-) I also receive, for example, in kind donations from local friends here and be part of a very active Santiago Facebook Freecycle group that aims to help each other by giving/receiving things for free between those that don't need them and those who do need them.
SY

 

[VNwalking]

I am not doing it alone, @VNwalking as you well know ;-)

Yes. That's the best part, everybody helping everybody. And someone - in this case you - gets to be the hands that offer! Which takes initiative and work.

 

[Ekelund]

This is very sad reading. Thank you to you and your local friends for making a difference.

 

[SYates]

@Ekelund And thanks to all international friends that help us!
BC SY

 

[SYates]

HUGE Thank Yous to all of you that have donated so far. Just to give you an idea on how your donation, no matter how small you might think it is, translates into /equals food and other necessities for my neighbors:

1 Euro equals 2 kilos of wheat flour
2 Euros equals 2 tins/cans of precooked lentils, chickpeas or beans
3 Euros equals 3 kilos of rice
4 Euros equals 1 liter of olive oil
5 Euros equals 50 single use face masks
6 Euros equals 10 liters of milk

and so on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

BC SY

 

[Former member 31048]

Hello @SYates I’ve only just come across this thread. Donation sent via PayPal from me and my French pilgrim husband Dominique, in Australia. Thank you for your kind heart.

 

[SYates]

Thank you so much @Jenny@zen and Dominique for your donation! It really does make a difference in a very real, tangible way!
BC SY

 

[alexwalker]

Thank you so much @Jenny@zen and Dominique for your donation! It really does make a difference in a very real, tangible way!
BC SY

Dear friend: I tried to contribute once more. Paypal doesn't work.

 

[Former member 31048]

Dear friend: I tried to contribute once more. Paypal doesn't work.

Hi Alex. Just for information - I used PayPal with no problem. It was just on Friday.

P.S. I used the link from the very first post on this thread.

 

[SYates]

@alexwalker Thank you! In a minute you have a PM with my bank details, as we are both living in Europe that should work just fine. (Transfer)Wise has also worked in the past, btw.

BC and Many Muchas Gracias!
SY

 

[camino07]

I've just donated via Paypal also, thanks for the info Jenny