Food for the needy.
It has come as a big shock that Impact Charity are no longer supporting the Food for the Needy for the next few months. They have stated that due to the requirement to pay their Vet Bills, they cannot afford to assist in the on going food for the needy campaign. In a letter to myself , they have explained their stance on this. They state that as they do not get a grant from the Council, for the animals, they have had to implement these sanctions. Although, I have never ever seen an application from the Impact Charity, requesting financial assistance. They also feel that they have to pay these bills as a priority as they have been spending such a lot on stray and abandoned animals. They further state, that no money will be spent on supplying food for the needy until September . They also request that no member of the council should request the purchase of food by Impact unless, by application to the Impact Committee.
It is such a shame, as so many people have already donated clothing and household goods to the shop run by Pauline Prior. Whom may I say , has been doing a fabulous job in the shop as well as continuing to fundraise in her own time. Pauline took this Charity to her heart a year and a half ago and has been instrumental in ensuring the survival of many of those that are in need.
So as Impact Charity are no longer funding the food for the needy, if you wish to bring your donations of food, clothing, household items etc., to the Offices of the Concejalia de Urbanizaciones at 5 Calle Madrid, they will be stored there, along with the other items already donated.
As we cannot expect over 47 families to go hungry until September, I intend to seek out a suitable unit on the Urbanisation to be used, solely for collecting and selling donations of toys, clothing, household items, to raise funds for the Needy. We will of course require volunteers to staff the shop. If you are interested, please contact our office .
If we manage to get a shop unit for this project, we hope that those who have supported this campaign, will continue to do so.
This is the councillors own words to a letter that was handed in to the town hall yesterday.
The councillor has some what twisted the words again. Please read the letter we issued the town hall, it's on his blog.
Our reply to this is, the food for the needy will have over €300 spent on food from the month of July as this money was raised at the Hoggs Head a couple weekends ago, so please look in to your facts councillor.
At this present time, we have a €814 vet bill out standing with Veterpets La Marina, and now a €1,100 euro vet bill outstanding with San Anton.
He is correct in Stating we have never applied for financial assistance, we did not mention that, what we mentioned was, there is a councillor for animals, and there is no awareness on this urb from the council to tell people about feral cats. Lets be honest, if more and more feral cats appear, people complain to the council ect ect, were trying our best to curb this without any support from any other establishment or groups.
The food for the needy has support, it's been handed regular food donations by outside groups and the good public of La Marina. The charities bills come first, if the bills are not met then that's the end of the charity.
Social services have a budget so I'm site for the next 6 weeks social services can offer extra help.
Also I personally would like to say, funds are allocated to purchase food for the needy, when a member of the council just turns up at the shop asking for milk for the needy, no committee member being informed AT ALL then you might as well have invite all the residents of La Marina to turn up at the shop.
It does not work that way, just like the council have meetings to discuss what needs to be done and where funds can go, I wouldn't expect to walk in to the town hall and speak to a assistant and ask for milk. It's that simple, when you are dealing with feral cats and trying to keep the population down, there is always a mounting vet bill. On average the charity shop by the grey area is paying out €775 a month on rent and electric, every 3 months the shop is paying out over €1,100 for rent electric and water and taxes. With the shop up by Cagney's the charity the charity is paying €300 one month and €350 the next month. And €200 taxes every three months. So that's why this decision was made, yes it's a charity but it will not be made bankrupt on run into the ground. The maths is simple.
Also, I would like to point out, the council do not post or advertise anywhere to take bric-a-brac to the charity shop or house hold goods.
This is just a great example of what the hell is wrong with La Marina, the local council making a huge deal out of a situation that will last for 6 weeks.
We just give up, instead of criticising Charities councillor start supporting them and raise awareness, not only are we trying to keep the feral cat population down on the Urb we also have been supporting the needy campaign since the very first appeal was made, yet the charity is still being criticised by the local council, not may other charities would of took the step to support two different causes in one town.
So yes, for August there will be no food purchased.
Christine Hoggett.
Am I right in thinking that the 300 euro raised in the Hoggs Head was over and above the regular money raised in the shop under the launderette. I was under the impression that the time, money and goods I donated to that shop was for the needy and not for cats. The sign over the door clearly states "For the Needy of San Fulgencia."
Obviously you did not read the letter. As of the 15th of July
The sign will be changed and will last until September.
We would like to Thank Pauline Prior for doing all what she has done for the charity as Pauline has now resigned. Disagreements or not, Pauline done and will no doubt continue to do a great job for raising funds for the needy.
As of September the charity will again start making donations to the needy.
Thank you Pauline.
Please go in to Impact Charity (the 1 near Barclays) and ask how much money they have donated to help buy food for the needy, then ask yourself why the council have NOT sent a thank you letter to them for providing the money to buying the food. If the council want to cut of there nose to spit there face so be it. It is also correct to go though the correct channels to obtain funds for anything i.e. milk, bread etc. also a few bar also donate food to this council for the needy and I wonder if they have been given a thank you letter. so if anyone wants to criticise Impact Charity, I think you should sit down and think about what this council spend there money on.
I am surprised to read about this Charity on the forum saying they are not supporting the needy as from 15th July until September. I visited the Urbanisation this morning and went to the ferreteria on the strip, funny I read the board chained up there and it said Impact Charity supporting the needy. So please Impact Charity i suggest you remove said board.
And so the complaints start again.... Am I the only one that thinks its beginning to sound like 'groundhog day'.
Regretably it is difficult from what has been written to fully understand what is or has gone on with this charity, it is always regrettable when a charity falls on tough times, you have my sympathy and assistance if it is required.
On the other hand I am horrified at the input that our council, councillors and their personnel have put into this food for the needy campain.
To the best of my knowledge it was not on any parties manifesto that they intended becoming a charitable institution, seemingly running around with bottles of milk etc. during a working day for which they are paid by us the electorate!
I would like to see my council and councillors working on the problems of this Urb, sorting out budget deficits, attracting new industry and all of the things that we expect from our elected representatives, rather than re-introducing the long lost milkman round!
Susan,
It is totally unacceptable that the council involves itself in charitable matters! This is not what these people are elected to do.
IMPACT is the charity and they have done a fantastic job but please let Jeff and his staff do their political work.
I would strongly suggest that all food, donations etc are delivered to the IMPACT shops not Jeff's HQ.
We need these political people fully concentrated on the political affairs of our urbanisation!
Evening Friendlyviking
In reality the charity is healthy with its finance. What the big problem is, when PAWS animal rescue finished Impact decided it would carry on neutering the feral cats. Well it's been horrific this year for feral cats and kittens being found or dumped. We have a good homing rate at the moment but in July and August everything slows down. Just yesterday a British Man turned up at the charity shop and left two big cats in a cat box and told us he couldn't take them home. Straight away them cats together will cost €68 euros, vet check for health, front lining ect ect. It's on going.
I would also like to say this, the €814 will be paid Friday morning at Veterpets, that leaves us with a €1,100 outstanding bill with San Anton and this will be cleared by start of August.
We will now be looking into arranging the food for the needy to be collected by Caritas, who are the official charity throughout Spain who deal with hungry families in and around towns in Spain. We will liaise with a different councillor now to arrange all this but rest to sure the charity will be purchasing food mid August.
The correct route is through them and that is what will happen from now on.
I also want to clear this up, Impact charity is not two charities, this, food for the needy and animals is a joint project, all money raised goes into the same account.
New sign writing will be on bot shops stating, Impact Charity carries out a feral cat neutering program and also donates food for La Marina / San Fulgencio.
Christine H
I worked as a volunteer at a previous charity shop where Pauline Prior was the shop manager. She has a very bad attitude, volunteers do not like being bossed around. Reading between the lines it looks like she has never changed and tried to make decisions on behalf of Impact charity without first obtaining approval from their committee. After being questioned about this she decided to resign!
Sue
I will leap to Pauline's defence here, she done a lot for the shop from the minute she walked in there, there was no bossing around by Pauline at all, she had her own ladies who come to help in the shop and she done a good good job up there.
The big problem is you have a punk like the councillor interfering with charities, his quick to jump on his blog about a charity but when it comes to the Urb and the real issues of day to day life for residents the man does not give a flying f&&&.
Who ever Friendlyviking is, he has it spot on, instead of butting your head in to charitable organisations Let the council do what they are suppose to do. Pauline don't deserve any stick ok, she done wonders for the shop why there.
Copy of letter that impact sent can be seen on this link http://pipnmain.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/food-for-needy.html?spref=fb