A JACOBSTOWE charity's biggest aid trip to Romania will set off on November 14 but more help is needed so the full complement of food can be taken.

Christian charity Gilead Foundation, which helps some of the most disadvantaged and desperate people in today's society, is appealing to local people to donate food such as flour, sugar, oil, rice, tins of vegetables and soup.

The foundation is hoping to take 10 tonnes of food as well as domestic items, furniture, school books and equipment, carpets, bedding and numerous other aid.

Nine volunteers will be travelling with the items in one articulated truck, a 17 tonne lorry, a minibus and a Nissan four-wheel drive vehicle tested free of charge by J F E Nissan of Exeter.

The destination is Santana, a village near the city of Arad where 160 children a day go through the feeding centre.

It is the third journey to Romania by the charity but the aid has been doubled this time.

Although donations poured into the country ten years ago after the revolution, during a recent visit by Gilead volunteers they could see that the country was still very poor in economic resources and people skills.

The foundation wants eventually to set up a farm, similar to its 300 acre farm at Jacobstowe, where it can teach people skills in agriculture and how to produce their own food.

Public relations manager Joanna Drew said milk was three times the cost of beer in Romania and hence there were a lot of alcoholics — drug consumption was also a problem.

'The land is very fertile but people do not have the skills to farm,' she said. 'That is why there is a lack of food.

'We want to purchase a community house over there so we can have a base and hopefully set up a training centre and working farm like we have at Jacobstowe.'

Five local schools and colleges are helping the campaign by filling shoe boxes and giving financial aid and it is hoped the whole community will donate items so the vehicles can set off jam-packed!

More school books, pens and pencils and disinfectants are also needed.

If you wish to make a donation contact Joanna Drew on 01837 851240 or deliver your items to Risdon Farm, Jacobstowe, Okehampton, EX20 3AJ.