Theheartan army
Scotland fan enlists fellow supporters to carry charity donations for poor kids in luggage to Moldova
THE Tartan Army is set to transport charity donations to one of Europe’s poorest countries when they travel for tomorrow’s crunch World Cup qualifier.
Scotland fan Elena Reid has organised to take an array of items to help impoverished children in Moldova ahead of Scotland’s match in the country.
However, the 52-year-old collected so many goods from business owners and friends that her luggage allowance won’t allow all of them to be transported.
But she has since roped in some dedicated Tartan Army fans to split the weight and help get the goods to Moldova safely.
Elena, alongside her husband Martin Reid, 57, are using the opportunity to provide vulnerable children with clothes, stationery and toys.
Images of the donations show a saltire emblazoned with the Scottish football team’s logo and the word Nairn draped behind a mountain of donations.
Items include clothes – with a Scotland strip being the notable addition – trainers, bags of sweets and letters from children in her community.
Upon realising her dilemma, Elena, originally from Russia, appealed for help on Facebook.
On Tuesday, she posted: “Hi everyone, I’ve got a favour to ask.
“During our visit to Moldova, we are bringing over a lot of clothes and items for underprivileged kids in the city that have been donated by families and shops in Nairn. So much has been given, we might be over our baggage allowance (which is 20kg per hold bag) as more items are arriving at our house this afternoon.
“Would anyone be willing to help, that isn’t going to use their allowance, and join us in taking a case over to Moldova?
“My husband and I are travelling down to Edinburgh tomorrow and are booked on the Sports options Jet2 flight at 8am from Edinburgh on Thursday.
“I know this is asking a lot but if anyone agrees to do this, it would be fantastic.
“I have spoken with social services in Chisinau and they are so grateful to be receiving these items so it would be a shame if they did not receive everything donated. Please comment or send me a PM.”
Elena’s post attracted dozens of likes as users flooded the comment section, eager to lend a hand.
One person said: “Count me in, I’m on the same flight.”
Another offered: “I’m on the same flight Elena, only taking hand luggage so I’m more than happy to help.”
A third commented: “Hi Elena, there’s a few of us flying out from Aberdeen if you can drop anything off on your way to Edinburgh. I’m sure myself and a few of the lads can help.”
A fourth added: “I’m glad you’re sorted but if you need anything else, there’s 9 of us on the same flight so sure we could help.”
Yesterday, Elena said: “I do a lot within my local community and when we travel, we try to do something for the local community over there.
“It was great to see the local community getting involved in this venture, allowing it to be both educational and beneficial.”
Moldova is in eastern Europe with a population of about 2.6million.
Formerly part of the Soviet Union, the country declared independence in 1991.
Despite substantial progress, it is still the second poorest country in Europe, with a 2016 UN Development Program report stating that 9.6 per cent of the population were living in absolute national poverty.