A container stuffed full of goods donated by the Moray community is about to be shipped across the sea to Africa for a charity project.
Garmouth residents Lansana Bangura and his wife Moira have spent the better part of a year collecting donations from all across the region in order to support farming, education and pharmaceutical causes in Sierra Leone, a country still reeling from the effects of civil war.
Hundreds of donations, including tools, bedding and clothes were carefully packed into a shipping container yesterday by RAF personnel who gave up their time to support the cause.
Once the goods have completed their six-month journey to Africa, the Mateiti Agricultural Development Project will use them to equip schools, farmers and medical facilities.
Mrs Bangura said: “The agricultural side of the project is now doing very well, so we’ve started focusing on helping schools and clinics.
“We’ve had all kinds of different donations, including shoes, household goods, tools and mattresses.
“The container is currently being loaded up thanks to a group of RAF personnel who very kindly donated their time to help us, and we’ve had a lot of help from the farming company Ravenhill in Elgin.
“I’d like to give special thanks to Allister Smith from Bishopmill Pharmacy in Elgin, who donated pharmaceutical goods we will be able to give to the clinic in Sierra Leone.
“We will be able to use most of the donations directly, but some of the stuff that has been donated, including the clothing and shoes will be sold in the capital city of Freetown, and we’ll be able to use the money to cover the costs of upkeep of the project and any transportation needs.”
Mrs Bangura said her husband Lansana will help to make sure the donations get to where they are required in the African country.
She added: “We’re hoping to get it shipped within the next couple of days, and then it will take around six months at sea before it arrives.
“Once it finally gets there, my husband will fly out to Sierra Leonne to help oversee distribution.
“The amount of support we’ve received has just been incredible, and we are just so grateful.”
