Appeal for children’s shoes for refugees
THE Frome branch of Refugee Action In East Somerset (RAISE) is appealing for donations of outgrown children’s shoes to pass on to children in refugee camps across Europe.
The local group is aiming to collect thousands of pairs of unwanted children’s shoes that are still in a good clean condition and waterproof. The group is working in partnership with the charity Hope and Aid Direct, to help deliver the shoes to the refugees in need.
Collection points have been set up across the town, including the Cheese and Grain, 12pm to 2pm every Monday (except Bank Holidays), and the Good Heart cafe, Palmer Street, Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.
Local schools have also got involved, including Oakfield Academy, who also have a collection point.
RAISE volunteer, Lorna Thomas explains, “RAISE continues to work persistently to send aid out to international refugee camps. This has never wavered. We thought the refugee crisis would be a time-limited problem, but now we realise our commitment to refugee aid must continue indefinitely.
“Certain things push us beyond our weekly endeavours. Last autumn, a school donated a few pairs of shoes which had been abandoned in lost property. At the same time, one of the volunteers saw a photograph of children in a camp in Greece all of whom were barefoot, or in shoes falling apart, or too big, or sandals. Not only was it cold, but they lived in tents in a sea of mud.
“So, this year, RAISE wants to collect hundreds, no, thousands of pairs of strong waterproof shoes to send out in time for next winter.
“The registered charity Hope and Aid Direct have come into partnership with us, so we know that our shoes, donated by our wonderful local Frome families, will be taken out in an aid convoy to be delivered safely to the overcrowded camps in time for next winter.
“On their last visit to the Greek island of Samos a few months ago, Hope and Aid Direct discovered that there were 2,400 child refugees in the camp, of which 1,900 were under 12. That’s a lot of growing feet!
“People are also asking about adult shoes. Good clean waterproof adult shoes are also very welcome. They can be dropped off at the Cheese and Grain, but the Good Heart cafe is specifically for our appeal for children’s shoes.”
