Scots Charities Appeal For Donations To Help Refugees
Scots are being urged to donate cash and clothing to help refugees fleeing Syria.
Several charities have launched emergency appeals to alleviate the ongoing crisis in Europe.
Glasgow the Caring City hopes to send a 40ft container of aid to the Balkans where it will be distributed by volunteers.
The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) said refugees with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing are in desperate need of supplies.
Tens of thousands of people have been fleeing war-ravaged Syria and making their way through Turkey and Greece to Macedonia and Serbia.
Ross Galbraith, of Glasgow the Caring City, said the phones have not stopped ringing since it launched its appeal, but it still requires clothing in particular.
The operational manager said: There are 85,000 refugees turning up to the centres we support between Macedonia and Hungary each month.
We've got access to food, shelter and medical supplies but the one thing we need is clothes. The onset of winter means it will be a perilous place to be.
We need schools to organise collections, workplaces to arrange a 'bring a bag' day and the whole community to work together.
The quicker we get the donations in, the quicker we can get the container sent off.''
Donations are being collected and sorted by volunteers at the charity's warehouse in Castlemilk.
Housing organisation the Wheatley Group has pledged £5,000 to the appeal and is asking its 2,500 staff to donate unwanted clothes and shoes.
SCIAF said its sister charities in Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Austria and Serbia are helping refugees throughout Europe.
Director Alistair Dutton said: We must do whatever we can to care for those whose lives are being torn apart, whether they are in the Middle East or Europe.
SCIAF is already giving food, medical care, accommodation and counselling to people still trapped in Syria and thousands of refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.
Our sister agencies in Europe are helping many more who have crossed the Mediterranean.
Please do whatever you can to help us respond to this dreadful situation.''
People can make donations to SCIAF's Refugee Crisis Appeal by calling 0141 354 5555 or online at www.sciaf.org.uk.
For details of how to donate to Glasgow the Caring City, visit www.glasgowthecaringcity.com.
The charity has stressed it needs only clothing, shoes, jackets, socks, hats and gloves. It does not require tents, sleeping bags, blankets or toiletries.