ALL PACKED UP AND READY FOR LA PALMA

On Monday some directors and fans of UD Lanzarote loaded all your goods into a large van owned by Nathan and Aine who run the Bucket List Bar in Calle Anzuelo in Puerto Del Carmen. The couple will shortly be on their way to La Palma to give these goods and also over 1500 Euros in cash gathered from members of the public to the people in charge of distribution on the affected island.

The response to this cause has been overwhelming. On my very first post less than a week ago I asked people if they could help our Canarian neighbours. The following morning an Austrian lady came into our shop with a lovely new double duvet. I thought that this is great, at least we collected something then the following day the post was shared over 250 times and our shop was inundated with people with bags of clothes, baby food, sheets and blankets as were other organised collection points for the club.

My wife who is normally in the shop was delighted to meet some truly wonderful people. Lisa Dolman in Playa Blanca contacted me and arranged collections in the south and delivered them to the club, I have had an offer from a transport company to take a van full with donated products to La Palma and she would incur the cost of the trip. These are just a few of so many offering help.

The local people on La Palma no longer need clothes, though we will still collect them in the Costa Teguise shop for local homeless charities so please keep them coming. The items that the islanders are desperate for include:

Toiletry products, (Toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo, hair conditioner, soap, body cream, nail clippers, cotton buds, shaving foam and disposable razors, tissues, towels, etc).

Baby products (nappies, nappy cream, baby lotion, baby bottles, wet wipes).

Home cleaning products as this is a constant battle with the never ending ash fall so, floor cleaning liquids, washing liquid, mops, sweeping brushes, bin bags etc).

Kitchen Utensils (pots, pans, cutlery, plates, glasses, cups etc).

Protective material (masks, both children and adults, protective glasses). These items are vital due to how much ash is falling and which could carry on for a long time.

Household appliances (small appliances such as kettles, blenders, toasters etc).

As mentioned the response has been incredible from Lanzarote residents and tourists as well as from people from all of the other islands regarding clothes. Our goal is to supply La Palma with what they need. If they decide certain items are not required then those items will be sourced to local charities on Lanzarote.  Over 6000 people have been evacuated from their homes and have no idea if and when they will return; others have lost everything with no resemblance where their house once stood.

Money donations The people of La Palma of course need cash and this can be transferred direct to the Town Hall of Los Llanos de Aridane on La Palma: IBAN ES06 2100 1921 1902 0014 1752 (Please write your name, state it’s for a donation to Volcano of La Palma and destined for the Town Hall of Los Llanos de Aridane).

Whilst this is a tragic event it is also a natural event. All of us living in the Canary Islands would not be doing so if there had never been an eruption. Nobody has died as nobody did die in the huge eruptions in Lanzarote from 1730 for six years. We all hope that this remains the same.

Yesterday the eruptions slowed down leading some to believe that the worst was now over then the following day nature struck back with more power and said no, not yet. The truth is nobody does know when this will end; it could be weeks, months or even years. The islands main source of income is bananas that are supplied to many countries in Europe. Many of those plantations have been flattened along with people’s homes under metres of lava. Tourism has been upended however many tourists who have had their holiday cancelled have donated the money from their holiday to the people of this Isla Bonita (Beautiful Island).

The saying within every Canarian island is Todos Somos Palmeros (We Are All People of La Palma). Let’s support in any way we can.