The Shoe & boot drying room is coming together! Tomorrow's job? ...helping to wash 500 pairs of sea soaked shoes ready to be re-cycled & re-distributed. Day 3 in Samos with 'handy-Andy'

"Samos is a beautiful Island. As I write I am enjoying the local food after a satisfying day.

To give you an indicator it has a population of 32K (twice the size of my hometown Ricky). Each day 50-150 people arrive and the system evolves daily to manage them all.

Four months ago there were 100s milling on the Streets by the Port. Now the teams have bought a little order to the system of receiving and helping the refugees. Msf (doctors without Borders), Unicef, Samaritans, a local doctor, and Ikea (who donated solid pop up tents), have all pulled together alongside a very courageous lady who is the only locally elected government ombudswoman in Greece to have set up a system to receive the people.

At sea it is the pros at work - the coastguard, rescue folks from different countries, the police and army.

Here in in the Port where the refugees are bused to, is where the volunteers and the NGOs help out work alongside Elenor & the local council. Together they look after the distribution of warm dry clothes and shoes.

No matter what time the buses arrive we (the volunteers) are there to give emergency clothing. They’re then helped medically, fed and given shelter. The shelter is basic & brutal but it’s dry.

Warehouse sorting is a daily duty for volunteers here. It is incredible, imagine TK Maxx mixed and muddled, where everything needs sorting, baby clothes to toothbrushes. The goal for the volunteer is to help get this out the door to those that need it as quickly and as appropriately as possible. It's neither glamorous or dangerous - but it's necessary.

To help with this process I have focused my attention on building a shoe drying room. Tomorrow I will be washing shoes, we have about 500 pairs that are wet from the sea, a fantastic German couple created a

washing system, but drying was left up to the elements. Today, out of some recycled metal fences and some wood, I have created a room with some racks and I am hoping some fan heaters and convection can speed up the process of drying. Fingers crossed…we find out tomorrow!

I will also complete some sorting tables for the summer clothing to be sorted.

I have spent some money on the van & petrol, materials and tools (to be left for the next volunteer who can help fix stuff) food and coffee for the other volunteers and feeding myself.

Additionally two young German lads who have been helping at the main camp came to the warehouse looking for donated backpacks for the departing refugees (the ferry leaves for Athens every other day). We had none so they were going to buy some from the town, I gave them 100 euros as they were otherwise going to use their personal funds.

I want to say to anyone who may be reading this that they really do need hands on the ground here to do this simple job of sorting clothes and distributing them to those in need. It is safe and yes it is crazy at times.

The rewarding bit is knowing you are helping fellow people and families on their way having survived a crossing that many don't.

It is always difficult to balance your home life and all its stresses, but if the feeling takes you and you have some spare time and desire to help Elenor, the Island of Samos would love your helping hands. Form an orderly queue and check out Calais Action, or Samos municipality for details or just come, check into a hotel and offer your help.

Going to retire now to my bed. Hope the weather is nice and your day good tomorrow :-)"

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