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