Islanders fund new home for Romanian family – see the pictures

Thousands of people donated money over the Christmas period after Mustard Seed Jersey revealed the plight of the family of three who were facing a freezing winter in the small outbuilding with just one bed made of bricks.

  • Mustard Seed Jersey is a small charity that was set-up in 1998
  • It is run from the home of the founder – Rose Hélie, and financed by donations from Jersey people
  • The aim of the charity is to ease suffering in eastern Europe, by providing opportunities to enable people to become self-sufficient, through the taking of humanitarian aid, funding various projects and prayerfully supporting a number of projects
  • Mustard Seed chooses to work with small trusts and foundations, as they are seen to be in the greatest need, often having no other help from the West

The family moved into the shed after a lorry crashed into their home and reduced it to rubble.

Now, after more than £11,000 was raised by Islanders, the Benedict family – a married couple and the man’s brother – have been moved into a purpose built two-bedroom portacabin which is heated by a wood burner which was donated by an Islander during the appeal.

The team were able to relocate the family to a purpose built portacabin, which has been positioned in the town Cihei, near to where Mustard Seed Jersey’s aid trailer is providing accommodation for two other households.

The land is owned by two Romanian charity workers from the charity Fundatia Increderea, who have offered it to house the homeless.

In a statement, Mustard Seed Jersey said: ‘As the Jersey financial response was so wonderful, there are funds available for at least one more unit of accommodation.

‘Each unit will be provided with a wood burning stove for heating and cooking, a solar unit to provide light and also sufficient power for an appliance such as a television or computer, an ecological toilet, a bed/s, and there will be a portion of land with each accommodation unit, fenced off to provide the opportunity for self sufficiency, for example growing vegetables or keeping chickens or a goat.

The team said that they were ‘delighted’ with the overwhelming generosity and believe that it will ease the suffering for some families living in Romania.

The family's new home

Mustard Seed volunteers learned of the family’s plight when they were in Romania in December handing out Christmas shoeboxes and food parcels.

On the first day of their trip they also came across the family-of-three – Lotti Benedeck, his brother Andreas and Andreas’ wife Eva – whose home was destroyed after being hit by a vehicle, leaving them living in a tiny shed and sharing a single bed made out of bricks.

The team wanted to raise £3,000 to place lorry containers on a site and turn them into suitable accommodation.

Within days of the appeal being launched an Islander donated the money to buy the family a wood-burning stove.

Speaking after the donation of the stove, Lotti said: ‘It’s incredible, a miracle. ‘I didn’t think God could help us in this way. I am very proud that so many people have a heart. Thank you Jersey, thank you so very much.’

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