OVERWHELMED! (From Warrington Guardian)

OVERWHELMED!

BIG-HEARTED Lisa Watson and Anne Azmeh have issued an SOS for help to cope with the overwhelming response to their Kosovo refugee appeal.

The determined Congleton duo set out to collect vital food and blankets for a Christian Concern mercy mission to refugee camps caring for Kosovar Albanians.

However their plea for support from the people of Congleton has left them barely able to cope with the avalanche of donated items from businesses, nursing homes and hospitals.

Lisa and Anne have set up collection points at two local butchers, but are desperate to find larger central premises which can cope with the flood of items which are pouring in daily.

Lisa's daughter Emma attends Smallwood Primary School, one of scores of schools in the area invited to support a Kosovo refugee appeal initiated by Crewe Christian Concern.

The charity is aiming to send 20 tonnes of aid to Albania, and Reverend Rob Wykes wrote to schoolchildren asking each of them to bring in a bag of flour and packet of pasta for the appeal.

However Lisa, from Ayrshire Way, wanted to do more to help, and she and Anne, from Ennerdale Drive, visited every business in Congleton, receiving offers of help from all but a handful.

The huge list of items donated to the appeal is endless, and includes toiletries, blankets, rice, flour, clothes, footballs, children's toys, wheelchairs, walking sticks and medical equipment.

Moss' and Rowley's butchers in Antrobus Street and Biddulph Road agreed to act as collection points for donated goods, which are then ferried to Smallwood to be stored in the hall awaiting collection by Christian Concern.

However the school is full to bursting point, and Lisa and Anne are collecting three times a day from the butchers shops.

They are now looking for a large building in the centre of Congleton, preferably with car parking, to cater for the mountain of donations.

"We have been overwhelmed by the response to the appeal, and are hoping someone can help us by offering somewhere central,'' said Lisa.

"We just cannot believe what has happened since we asked for help, and desperately need somewhere as soon as possible.

"I would like to thank everyone who has given things, and we can assure people everything is going to reach the people who need it."

Smallwood headteacher Pat McDonald said the appeal had brought out the best in the people of Congleton.

"It shows a tremendous community spirit, and is almost like the way people rallied round during the war" she said.

Anyone who can offer a collection base can ring Mrs McDonald on 01477-500362.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.