Hands for Refugees
After visiting and volunteering in refugee camps in Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Germany and a successful fundraiser to provide "Warmth for Refugees" stranded on the Slovenian/Austrian border awaiting passage to Western Europe, it is time for larger-scale action to enable us to provide urgent support at the mouth of the crisis - Greece.
I plan to go to Greece in Mid-December for an extended stay of at least two weeks to help asylum seekers upon first arrival to Europe. This might include helping struggling boat riders swim safely to shore, provide food and drinks, provide fresh clothes and blankets, ensure they receive appropriate medical care, provide information and psychological support, in addition to anything that might be needed. Ideally, I would like to raise funds to help me and potentially another 1-2 very dedicated and passionate volunteers pay for our key expenses (transportation and accommodation) as well as buy urgent donations as needed. These donations can range from food, water, blankets, clothes, shoes, hygiene supplies, flyers with critical information, medications, etc.
I am stating $25,000 as the desired fundraising goal, but really, there is no limit to how much money is needed. I will be traveling from Germany as well as any other volunteers, hence travel expenses will be low. However, we could use as much money as we can get to buy and supply critical donations as much as we can. Given the size of the crisis and the expectation that 5000 refugees will be entering Greece on a daily basis between November 2015 and February 2016, every cent counts and is much needed. Please help us help and support our cause, for the sake of peace, for the sake of love, for the sake of humanity...
I plan to go to Greece in Mid-December for an extended stay of at least two weeks to help asylum seekers upon first arrival to Europe. This might include helping struggling boat riders swim safely to shore, provide food and drinks, provide fresh clothes and blankets, ensure they receive appropriate medical care, provide information and psychological support, in addition to anything that might be needed. Ideally, I would like to raise funds to help me and potentially another 1-2 very dedicated and passionate volunteers pay for our key expenses (transportation and accommodation) as well as buy urgent donations as needed. These donations can range from food, water, blankets, clothes, shoes, hygiene supplies, flyers with critical information, medications, etc.
I am stating $25,000 as the desired fundraising goal, but really, there is no limit to how much money is needed. I will be traveling from Germany as well as any other volunteers, hence travel expenses will be low. However, we could use as much money as we can get to buy and supply critical donations as much as we can. Given the size of the crisis and the expectation that 5000 refugees will be entering Greece on a daily basis between November 2015 and February 2016, every cent counts and is much needed. Please help us help and support our cause, for the sake of peace, for the sake of love, for the sake of humanity...
Warmth for Refugees
After spending some time volunteering in Opatovac refugee camp in Croatia and witnessing heartbreaking situations of sick, exhausted and extremely cold refugees stranded outside in the cold, "Warmth for Refugees" was born.
Update November 17, 2015
Thank you all for making "Warmth for Refugees" a successful fundraiser. Now it is time for a larger-scale fundraising operation to enable our work in Greece to be successful. As of this moment, the "Warmth for Refugees" campaign has been terminated, and the "Hands for Refugees" campaign is launched. For a detailed update on the "Warmth for Refugees" mission, please refer to the following blog post:
http://www.silkborders.org/blog/warmth
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Update November 09, 2015
The campaign was started in October 25, 2015. Since then ~$3800 of the target $5000 have been raised. However, there is really not any upper limit to how much donations are needed. A group of fellow amazing volunteers and myself plan to go frequently to refugee camps and borders and provide "warmth bringers" on a regular basis - this includes blankets, hats, gloves, thick scarves.. etc. As for now, we plan to drive down to the Austrian/Slovenian border tomorrow with a van containing 840 blankets, 150 winter hats, 100 pairs of gloves, and 250 winter scarves that your donations for this campaign helped us purchase, in addition to miscellaneous donations from good souls in Germany! Thank you all SO MUCH for being part of this!
Please send your best wishes and good vibes and love and hugs to our direction so we can conduct our missions successfully. It is becoming increasingly difficult for volunteers like us to go and help in crisis areas due to increasing control of the police, military, and large non-profits on the refugee sites who are restricting access and distribution of donations. However, we are going tomorrow morning anyway and we won't give up until these donations make it to the right people!
Thanks again for all your support, and please keep the support coming. You are exceptional human beings!
Thank you all for making "Warmth for Refugees" a successful fundraiser. Now it is time for a larger-scale fundraising operation to enable our work in Greece to be successful. As of this moment, the "Warmth for Refugees" campaign has been terminated, and the "Hands for Refugees" campaign is launched. For a detailed update on the "Warmth for Refugees" mission, please refer to the following blog post:
http://www.silkborders.org/blog/warmth
---
Update November 09, 2015
The campaign was started in October 25, 2015. Since then ~$3800 of the target $5000 have been raised. However, there is really not any upper limit to how much donations are needed. A group of fellow amazing volunteers and myself plan to go frequently to refugee camps and borders and provide "warmth bringers" on a regular basis - this includes blankets, hats, gloves, thick scarves.. etc. As for now, we plan to drive down to the Austrian/Slovenian border tomorrow with a van containing 840 blankets, 150 winter hats, 100 pairs of gloves, and 250 winter scarves that your donations for this campaign helped us purchase, in addition to miscellaneous donations from good souls in Germany! Thank you all SO MUCH for being part of this!
Please send your best wishes and good vibes and love and hugs to our direction so we can conduct our missions successfully. It is becoming increasingly difficult for volunteers like us to go and help in crisis areas due to increasing control of the police, military, and large non-profits on the refugee sites who are restricting access and distribution of donations. However, we are going tomorrow morning anyway and we won't give up until these donations make it to the right people!
Thanks again for all your support, and please keep the support coming. You are exceptional human beings!