Charity worker Lynda Mills at one of her projects for the Aid Africa charity appeal in Malawi.

Holt-based charity Aid Africa’s annual “Small Change Challenge” at half-way point

By DONNA-LOUISE BISHOP, Reporter Monday, February 13, 2012
12:05 PM

A north Norfolk-based charity is urging people to save their spare change to help one of the world’s most impoverished communities.

Where you can find Aid Africa’s donation boxes

Holt: Bakers Restaurant / Starlings / Thoughtful Expressions / Feathers Hotel / Holt Fish Bar / Flaiver / Fine Art / Kings Head / Pollard and Reid / Webb Jewellers / Decorum / Alberts Fish Bar / Pied Piper / Sherwood Stores / Feeney’s / Nixey and Godfrey / Ladbrokes / Holt Bookshop / Watsons / Aid Africa Charity Shop.

Fakenham: The Bull / Fakenham Heel Bar / Sweets and Things / Martins / Paper Klip / The Garden Centre / Fakenham Baptist Church (Tuesday Fellowship) / Benbows / Budgens / Honey’s / Great Ryburgh Post Office.

Wells: The Old Pottery

Norwich: Chris Roach Plastics / Bury’s Convenience store / Woodcock Convenience Store / Convenience Stores at 16 and 128 Magdalen Road

Aid Africa is half-way through its annual “Small Change Challenge” and pledges to raise funds for Malawi.

Lynda Mills and her husband David run the charity’s shop in Holt which covers the project’s overhead costs. This means every penny donated will be used to combat famine and disease.

A fuel shortage is also threatening to ruin the lives of thousands of people there who need essential care.

She said: “The fuel shortage is affecting almost all transport in Malawi - even the emergency ambulances have stopped at the moment. Of course it’s also hindering our work amongst the poor.

“Our target group is orphans, disabled people, the elderly and people living with AIDS. We also help families that would not be eating if we didn’t help.”

Mrs Mills will fly out to the country next month for three months to continue the work her and her husband started on their first visit in 2005. Mr Mills will then join her in May.

The proceeds of the Small Change Challenge means the couple can buy 15 tonnes of maize on this visit, which means 30,000 meals will be supplied for the most vulnerable families.

As well as providing food, the charity has also overseen the planting of community gardens, repaired water bore holes, developed goat herds and provided agricultural and livestock training.

Aid Africa will be collecting donations and putting up display boards at Budgens in Holt today, tomorrow and Saturday from 10am-4pm.

Donations will also be collected at the Aid Africa Charity Shop on Shirehall Plain, Holt.

• For more information contact Mrs Mills on 01263 713641.