Romanian orphanages are in need of quilts and school supplies, so the Quilting Passion Forum is sponsoring a quilt and/or supplies drive for these children.  Coordinating this charity quilt, and school supplies, drive is Valerie (Oregon, USA) and Litia (UK).  The deadline for mailing quilts and/or appropriate school supplies is November 15, 2006.  Romania is a huge supporter of education and place it high on their list of priorities.

If you are still interested in donations to this project after the deadline, please contact me via e-mail!  Thank you!

     Information regarding quilts:

	For children ages 10 and under, most of which are between the ages of 4 and 8.
	Quilts should be approximately 40" x 50".
	Since Romania is very cold, please try to use flannel for the backing, and use batting in the quilt.
	If making a flannel, raggy quilt, add an extra layer of flannel in the middle instead of batting.
	Please put a label on each finished quilt.  If you cannot make labels, we have volunteers that will make them for you.  Contact me via e-mail for label information.

     Information regarding other necessities for the children:

	Coloring books,
	Crayons,
	Pencils,
	Erasers,
	Pencil sharpeners,
	Pencil cases,
	School bags,
	School paper,
	School folders.

Please do not send ink pens or markers, as some countries have put bans on such items due to the inks.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

	Where do I ship my donations?  Either to Valerie in Oregon or to Litia in the UK.   Shipping information is available on the forum.
	How much does it cost to ship to the USA from the USA?  To ship to the USA, it varies from the zip code you are shipping from.  Shipping information is available on the forum by e-mailing Valerie.
	How much does it cost to ship to the UK from the USA?  To ship to the UK via Economy Parcel Post (4-6 weeks):  1)  5 lb package = $24.25, 2) 8 lb package = $30.55, 3) 12 lb package = $38.10.  To ship to the UK via Airmail Parcel Post (4-7 days):  1) 4 lb package = $29.50, 2) 8 lb package = $43.20, 3) 12 lb package = $55.85.
	Are no-sew fleece blankets OK?  Absolutely!  They are especially good for Romania, where it gets very cold.
	Can I tie my quilts or must they be quilted?  Yes, quilts can be tied.  Most of the children who receive quilts from us are old enough to handle a tied quilt safely.  There are also enough younger children that can used quilted quilts.
	Should I label my quilt?  Always!  And Valerie has created a very cute label for this project, if you need a label!
	Should I wash my quilt before I mail it to either Valerie or Litia?  Yes, please do!
	Is there a list of donations available to view?  Yes, the list is located on the Quilting Passion Forum and will also be listed here as donations are received.
	Can I view finished quilts?  Yes, they are available to view here online.

ROMANIAN INFORMATION

     Romania  is a country in Southeastern Europe.   Romania borders Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and Moldova to the northeast, and Bulgaria to the south. Romania has a stretch of sea coast along the Black Sea, and the eastern and southern Carpathian mountains run through its center.  Historic Bucharest, a major tourist attraction, is the country's capital and largest city. Romania has been an active member of NATO since 2004, and is also an acceding country to the European Union. The EU Accession Treaty was signed in early 2005, and Romania is due to join the European Union on January 1, 2007. Starting on January 1, 2007, Romania will have the seventh largest population and the ninth largest territory in the EU. The accession of Romania and Bulgaria, as expected in 2007, will complete the fifth enlargement of the EU that had started in May 2004.

     Romania is a semi-presidential democratic republic where executive functions are shared between the president and the prime minister.  Romania is divided into 41 counties, as well as the municipality of Bucharest, which is its own administrative unit.  Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe and the twelfth-largest in Europe. Perhaps the most well-known area of Romania is Transylvania. 

     A large part of Romania's border with Serbia and Bulgaria is formed by the Danube. The Danube is joined by the Prut River, which forms the border with the Republic of Moldova. The Danube flows into the Black Sea on Romanian territory, forming the Danube Delta, the largest delta in Europe, which is currently a biosphere reserve and World Heritage-listed site due to its biodiversity. 

     Romania's terrain is distributed roughly equally between mountainous, hilly and lowland territories. The Carpathian Mountains dominate the centre of Romania.  The country has the largest brown bear population in Europe, while chamois (a goat-like animal) are also known to live in the Carpathian Mountains, which dominate the centre of Romania. 

©