New Calais Refugee Aid Appeal Launched In Renfrewshire
A Renfrewshire couple are organising an aid convoy with the help of local organsiations to help refugees in Calais caught in the Migrant crisis.
Jade and Stephen O'Neil have been collecting items donated through appeals with the help of Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Leisure and Engage Renfrewshire.
The appeal was launched at Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley this morning.
They plan to bring all the donations down to Calais at the end of September.
Collection points throughout renfrewshire at various leisure and community centres across Renfrewshire.
They are:
Paisley – Lagoon Leisure Centre
Linwood – On-X Centre
Johnstone – Town Hall
Renfrew – Leisure Centre or Darul Quran Islamic Centre
Erskine – Community Sports Centre
The types of goods the aid organisers want to collect are:
- Walking shoes and trainers
- Men’s jeans, belts, jackets, hoodies, coats, thermals, and underwear
- Warm socks, gloves and woolly hats
- Tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulin / ground sheets, sleeping mats
- Wash bags, hold-alls, and bags for life
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, unisex shower gel, soap, body lotion, disposable razors, wide tooth combs, shampoo
- Candles and other lighting equipment
- Camping-style cooking equipment (pots, pans, camping stoves, non-electric kettles), plastic plates & cups, cleaning products, sponges
- Books – particularly in Arabic or for learning English.
In addition, a collection point is being set up at the Darul Quran Islamic Centre, 218 Paisley Road, Renfrew.
Aid organiser Jade has been overwhelmed at the huge response she has already recieved.
She said: "People and organisations in Renfrewshire have shown their compassion and determination to help in so many ways, but there is still plenty of time for more people to get involved. I am really excited about the new collection points which will really aid our efforts."
They are also asking for monetary donations which will be used to buy more supplies.
Donations can be made at any of the collection points or on their fundraising page.