A new local initiative to collect donations for newly arriving Afghan refugees has gone live in Torbay.
Run by a small group of locals, HelpForRefugeesTorbay registered with charity Care4Calais as an official local drop-off centre.
Donations to the local initiative are collected, then taken to the charity sorting centre to be sorted, before being provided to newly arriving Afghan refugees.
Millie, one of the Torbay volunteers said: “It’s so important that we as a country welcome refugees with open arms. But it’s not as easy as just ‘letting them in’, we need to ensure that the places they will be staying are habitable, comfortable and fit for purpose. Refugees deserve access to proper facilities, decent and appropriate clothing and they deserve to feel safe.
“We know that Torbay is a wonderfully kind place and we wanted to make it easier for people to help by becoming a donation point for Care4Calais. Until we are able to welcome refugees to this lovely town, we will be collecting clothing and other vital items for Care4Calais to distribute wherever needed.”
Another volunteer, Christopher, said: “Torbay helped with the evacuation of many children during World War Two. They escaped persecution and danger for a safer life in the west country.
“It’s important that we do our bit again to help refugees fleeing unspeakable atrocities and offer them a safe haven.”
Kim Thornton, business advisor at the TDA is also a supporter of the project.
The group is publishing information about the drop-off points on their social media, and hope that they can give people in Torbay an easy route to help refugees.
Their Instagram: https://instagram.com/helpforrefugeestorbay
Drop-off locations include Flow Studio and Gaia Coffee. With drop offs available at quickstore Torquay every Saturday morning from 9-12.
Care4Calais recently put out an update on their national operation saying: “Thanks to all of our amazing volunteers and your donations, we now have 2 warehouses and 5 store units full of donations.
“Of those donations we have amassed some 3000 items of underwear, 1000 items of toiletries, 100 volunteers sorting all weekend, 2000 emails answered, and thousands of amazing supporters.
“There is still much more work to do so if you can help please email annie@care4calais.org to get involved.”
To donate clothes, shoes, phones or other essentials please go to our drop off map and click on the pin nearest to you for contact details: care4calais.org/thedropoffmap
To buy the basic essentials such as a clean change of clothes or decent shoes donate here: bit.ly/afghanwelcome”
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