For two decades, a Huddersfield group has been helping the poor of Romania.
And officials of the Oak Tree Foundation have again flown thousands of miles to help out.
The group are running their Drop In The Ocean 2013 mission to a village called Danes in Transylvania.
Seven volunteers from Huddersfield flew out over the weekend to meet up with a truck packed full of aid materials, which set off last week for the long journey.
Much of the aid was donated by Huddersfield families but the group were also again supported by Sainsbury’s who donated hundreds of tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes to be given to every child in school in Danes and another village called Gageni.
Project organisers Roy Bowden, 63, said: “This is our 23rd year of taking humanitarian aid to the sick, poor and needy children and their families, and other needy organisations in rural Romania.
“We are doing what we can to help the families live and work in their own villages, which are often very basic with no water or power.
“Many of the children at the schools we help come from very poor families and would never be able to afford even the basics like toothbrushes and toothpaste.
“Children in Romania don’t get free dental care like our youngsters do and with their poor diet, many children suffer with severe tooth decay.
“The response from the people in Huddersfield has again been amazing. A lot of schools in the area help us by donating school equipment they no longer need and that is very well-received in Romania.
“The response we get from the villagers is fantastic. They welcome us like old friends and we now have a network of supporters there who can ensure the aid goes to the families who need it most.
“We have been doing this for 23 years and would love to carry on, but we are all getting that bit older and it is hard work.”
