Oswestry public backs refugee aid bid through bags of donations

Scores of bags of aid have been handed into the Chalk headquarters in Leg Street in the town as well as the Seventh Heaven complex in Chirk.

Now organisers are appealing for volunteers to help sort out the donations.

Two vans are due to go out to Calais in the first week in October for refugees living in 'the jungle' just outside the French port. As well as donated items from clothing to tents and sleeping bags, the organisers are appealing for donations of money to fund the cost of the fuel and the ferry tickets.

Men's clothes, particularly small sizes, trainers and walking boots are desperately needed along with woolly hats, underwear and jackets.

The appeal is also for blankets, sleeping bags, tents and tarpaulins, toiletries and even pots and pans.

Any spare money after ferry tickets, fuel and van hire costs are paid for will be used to buy bottled water.

Tracy Butler from Seventh Heaven said: "We hope that people will help just by giving a small amount as it all adds up.

"We understand that people have very different views on the immigrants and refugees in Calais but bottom line is that there are children, women and elderly human beings that genuinely need help amongst them."

Donations can be dropped off at Seventh Heaven at Chirk or at the Hermon Chapel in Oswestry.

A special 'sorting day' will be held at the chapel on Sunday from 10am.

Gemma Cassin from Chalk said: "We really need help to make sure all your donations arrive with the people who need them as quick as possible.

"The distribution centre in Calais is overwhelmed with unsorted aid arriving every day and as there is not enough man power on the ground to sort it. It's not getting out to the people. So we want to sort everything before it leaves here."

The donations from the Oswestry public to the aid programme follows on from a Refugees Welcome in Oswestry information day held earlier this month at Festival Square in the town.

At that event many people pledged to do what they could to help welcome refugees should they end up coming to the Oswestry area. Any Oswestry business wishing to register interest in volunteering services or staff to act as community liaison mentors should email info@oswestrychamber.org.uk or call (01691) 680717.