I AM writing on behalf of the Stourbridge Christian Aid Committee and all the collectors in Stourbridge to thank the people of Stourbridge for their generosity in supporting Christian Aid Week again in May 2008.

During the Christian Aid Week Street Collection the people of Stourbridge gave almost £14,000 towards the work of Christian Aid; this is an increase of about £800 on last year and will greatly benefit Christian Aid’s “partners” in the developing world.

As well as its work in supporting long term development projects in poorer countries, Christian Aid provides funds for disaster relief and disaster preparedness. Information on the Christian Aid website ( www.christianaid.org.uk) informs us that “Christian Aid is currently sending £50,000 to help relief efforts in Haiti which Hurricane Hanna hit on September 2, causing torrential rain and severe flooding and killing at least 137 people.

These funds will provide families with much needed relief items such as water purifier tablets and medicines.

Even before these storms hit, Haitians were struggling to cope with the soaring cost of food with many families down to just one meal a day.

With acres of crops now destroyed by storms, there are even harder times ahead.”

Many thanks to everyone locally who supported Christian Aid Week. May I also through your columns encourage readers to visit the Christian Aid website where more details of Christian Aids’ work in more than 50 countries around the world can be found.

Hugh Williams
by e-mail