LETTER OF THANKS

2012 has been an exceptional year for Mediterranea. There had never been so many of us doing volunteer work, we had never had so many fund raising events, we had never put in so much effort, and we had never helped so many people on a continual basis.

This letter is to express my thanks to all those people who have helped us in so many ways over the last year. People like young volunteers who are becoming more and more important in the world of solidarity, the schools, teachers and the pupils who have raised funds and donated food, the volunteers who buy and distribute food to the needy, the volunteers who transport the food and supplies, the volunteers who help with their knowledge to make Mediterranea progress and evolve, the professionals in the media, the people who work at pharmacies and help us, doctors, architects, interpreters, photographers, teachers, staff from the University of the Balearic Islands, people from the world of aviation, physiotherapists, engineers, people from the yachting industry, the tourist industry, the elderly lady who crochets beautiful warm clothes for babies, the couple of pensioners who gave their Christmas bonus money to needy children, people who have gone to work for our programmes in the third world, the sister organizations with whom we are very pleased to collaborate, translators, graphic designers, members who contribute with their monthly subscriptions and encouraging friends and family to join, the housewife who brings us children's clothing for the little ones in deprived families and coats for the homeless, the shopkeeper who brings us food he cannot sell but doesn't want to throw away because he wants to help feed the needy, sports clubs that hold events to raise money and collect items which we can distribute amongst those in need, the groups of friends, people in other countries who have sent us items to hand out, people who have travelled to all four corners of the world to distribute glasses to people who are unable to buy them, people who give us computers so we can fight against digital illiteracy, and above all I want to thank those people who I have forgotten to mention in this letter but without whom we wouldn't be what we are. 

Thank you,

 
Michael 




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YACHT CREWS HELP LOCAL CHILDREN

YACHT CREW AND LOCAL MARINE BUSINESSES JOIN FORCES FOR LOCAL CHILDREN

On Wednesday December 12th the Captain and Crew of the Sailing Yacht Aglaia organized a Charity Christmas Party in aid of several local children´s charities. A staggering €2,831 was raised through donations and over 200 children´s gifts were collected for Christmas presents. The party was held in the STP shipyard where Aglaia had prepared a bar, barbecue and a spectacular spread of food for all the other yacht crew´s currently in the yard as well as all the local marine businesses. Despite the cold and rain the party still managed to get off with a swing and thanks to so many generous donations of both gifts and cash, many, many Majorcan children can enjoy a little surprise this Christmas.

Dr Stoma, representing the charity Mediterranea gratefully accepted the funds raised and was overwhelmed by the gifts and donations, ¨This year more than ever before there is a desperate need for basic items for children of all ages living here in Mallorca. From babies to teenagers there are so many children who suffer daily from hunger, cold and the lack of every day goods. The money collected will help buy baby milk and cereals, nappy´s, simple staple foods and items such as soap and tooth paste, items that these children often have to live without. The gifts people have donated too will make a very special difference to many children living in extreme poverty or in care, so a huge thank you to everyone for their support and generosity.¨

The Captain of Aglaia Mark Stevens added ¨Hundreds of yachts visit Mallorca and the Balearic islands each year, some staying for long periods undertaking refit work or during down time over winter. We hope this party has made a few of the visiting crew more aware of the needs of many children on the Island and we really want to build on this success and continue to make a difference. We are hoping to have another fund raising event in the spring time and hopefully with a little sunshine will set the target even higher!´

Complete Marine Freight and Planet Space are kindly helping with storage and an area to sort the goods before their distribution during the next few days to children around the island.

PS Keep an eye on the Facebook and Blog for the updates.

A DANCE FOR THE HUNGRY

On 27th of December, in the Casal de Paguera at 7:30pm, the Maria Antonia Mas dance studio will put on a show in favour of children in need in Mallorca.
You and your children will love it.

Toys

TOYS FOR EVERYONE

The collection of toys for the most underprivileged children of Sa Pobla, which was organised by the Juega y Educa shop, has turned out to be a success. In spite of everything, the children in this Mallorcan town will probably receive more than one present. Today for instance, some friends of Mediterránea, Sunsi Sillero and her husband Tim, have donated 157 toys, dolls and games. Today Kate, another Mediterránea collaborator, has delivered the 200 toys donated by the Captain and crew of the yacht Aglaia, along with the 2.800€ raised at the Christmas party recently celebrated by this wonderful and caring group of people. Really fantastic!

Tomorrow, the secretaries of Father Christmas, Cristina Moragues and Isabel Roselló, who are in the photo along with Tim and Sunsi, will continue collecting and wrapping up new donated gifts which will be delivered to the children on the 22nd. María Dolores Aguiló, the nurse in Sa Pobla and alma mater of the project which Mediterránea launched in this town, will begin informing the families so that all the boys and girls can attend the gift-giving party. What excitement!

Mediterranea and Christmas

Forthcoming Mediterránea Events:

Up until 21st December Mediterránea is collecting toys, new and second hand in good condition, at the toy shop Juega y Educa in C/Jesús, 13. They will be distributed to children from our programme "No more Hungry Children in Sa Pobla" at Christmas...

Between 29th November and 1st December Mediterránea will have a stand together with Mallorca Sense Fam (Mallorca without Hunger) at the Casal Solleric. There will be books, calendars and raffle tickets (see below) on sale. There will also be a welcome ceremony for the Christmas festivities with the switching on of the Christmas lights in the city. The ceremony will be well worth while seeing for the whole family.

1st December. Sale of the solidarity book Recetas Contra el Hambre (Recipes Against Hunger) at the Christmas Fayre of the international schools Queen's College, The Academy and Baleares International College. The profit from the sale of these four books, which are full of recipies and drawings by the school children, will go towards buying food for the families with undernourished children in Sa Pobla. Price, 10€

9th December, Mediterránea will be at the Santa Ponsa Christmas Market, C/ Riu Sil

27th December, “Dance against Hunger”, a solidarity performance by the Mª Antonia Mas ballet company in the Paguera auditorium, at 7.30pm. Donation: 5€, which will be used to buy food for the needy.

4/1/2013 Raffle to raise money to buy textbooks for poor schoolchildren in Palma. Prizes: trip to Berlin for 2 people, including flight and hotel, lunch/dinner for 2 people at Sa Cranca, YHI Spa water therapy. Tickets can be bought at most of the above mentioned events.

Recipes against hunger

Books for a good cause: Recipes against hunger 

Four of the international schools in Mallorca have put together this series of solidarity books, which contain recipes and drawings created by the children.  

Queen's College, The Academy, Baleares International College and Bellver College have taken part in this joint activity in order to raise funds to buy food for the large number of underprivileged families in Sa Pobla. 

"Recipes against hunger" costs just 10€ and is on sale at the above schools or at the Mediterránea headquarters in Portals. They will also be available in Casal Solleric, Palma, on 29th and 30th of this month and on 1st December.