Send Winter Aid Collected in Barcombe to the Greek Island of Chios

BARCOMBE AID COLLECTION: WINTER AID FOR REFUGEES IN EUROPE & BEYOND

WHY WE ARE FUNDRAISING

The aim of this fundraiser is to raise money to help ship the winter aid collected on Saturday the 16^th January 2016, in St Francis of Assisi Church Hall, Barcombe Cross, to the island of Chios, Greece.

The shipping cost is partly met; however we were completely overwhelmed by the generosity of the donations from the residents of Barcombe and surrounding communities. A conservative estimate of the amount collected would be 800+ bin bags of essential warm clothes, boots, nappies and blankets for men, women and children. This fundraiser is to help meet the resulting funding shortfall. Although the shipping company have generously agreed to ship it at cost, the total cost to deliver this amount of aid to Chios has been estimated to be approximately £1000. The aid is due to be sorted and packed by a group of volunteers, ready to be delivered to the shipping company the week beginning 8^th February 2016. If you can contribute anything to help the aid on its way we would be most grateful.

WHERE THE AID IS GOING

As a local resident, I organised the collection in support of the thousands of refugee families and unaccompanied children, forced to flee their homes in Syria, and other war torn areas. They make the dangerous crossing from Turkey in a desperate search for survival and a future for their families. Those that survive the crossing arrive freezing cold, soaking wet, traumatised, and often suffering from various stages of hypothermia.

This aid will be utilised by volunteer groups on the Greek Island of Chios who work tirelessly on the shore (the Eastern Shore Rescue Team) and at the registration centre (Town Team), to re-clothe, feed and treat every refugee. It really will help to save lives.

IF WE RAISE EXCESS FUNDS

If we are lucky enough to raise an excess of funds, it will be donated to one or both of the following:

• the wholesaler account set up by UAREUK to fund supplies for the refugee meals made by the ‘Chios People’s Street Kitchen’. They feed the refugees arriving on the island, often their first and their last meal for a while. For more information please visit:

UAREUK website http://www.uareuk.com/

UAREUK facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1662128954027412/

Chios Refugee Support face book page https://www.facebook.com/groups/563797890439248/

• The CK Team who work with Medicins Sans Frontier (MSF) between Korakas & Palios in North Eastern Lesvos, an isolated and dangerous part of the coastline for boats to land. Their team comprises 10 volunteers including an Emergency Doctor, fire fighters, mountain rescue and driving professionals. Every single refugee is met, treated, fed, watered, re-clothed and transported to the MSF camp 15km away by locals who give their time freely. The number of refugees exceeds 1000 a week. Prior to the CK Team, refugees faced landing the boats alone and unaided, followed by a 15kms walk over mountains to the nearest help. They were preyed upon by Mafia types who exploited them by promising lifts which never materialised. Even in the summer months, some didn’t survive the walk.

For more information about their work, please visit their website http://www.refugeeslesvos.com/ or facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theckteamrefugeeslesvos/

Contact: [email protected]