Thanks to the generosity of people across Cornwall, children from the All as One orphanage in Freetown, Sierra Leone, will have a happier Christmas.

An estimated £40,000 worth of goods have been donated to A&P Falmouth so far following an appeal for vital provisions to send to the orphanage

Penny Phillips, chairman of the Missions to Seafarers in Falmouth and personal executive assistant to the managing director of A&P Falmouth, who has co-ordinated the appeal to help these children said: “The outpouring of generosity has been truly staggering.

“Cars and even vans have been arriving every ten minutes and we have exceeded our wildest expectations. We have our general stores full, two large offices full and a container half full but we are continuing to receive.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to every person, family, church and organisation that has contributed. We will be collecting until 5pm on Friday, so there is still time.”

Individual stories of generosity include a £5,000 donation from one Falmouth resident and Britannia Lanes of Cornwall donating 100 boxes for packing. Families of those serving on RFA Argus and organisations up and down the country including Rotary clubs, churches, schools, universities, Inner Wheel clubs, Lions clubs, district nurses, ships’ chandlers and surveyors, dock yard tenants and a hedgehog rescue group, have all made donations.

The bulk carrier Gypsum Centennial, currently in dry-dock undergoing repairs, will sail soon for Freetown, Sierra Leone, carrying two container loads of foodstuffs, toys and clothes for the orphanage.

Beltship Management, operators of the Gypsum Centennial, support the charity All As One in Sierra Leone.
All as One supports orphaned and destitute children by providing them with love, a home, three meals a day, an on-site accredited school, health care, counselling, and most of all . . a family.