The refugee crisis has provided many opportunities for people to reach out, even in small ways, to provide help and assistance to those in need. Recently, the women in the St Albans area of Hertfordshire of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became aware of the needs of refugees who had arrived on the Greek island of Leros. They set to work gathering nappies, baby milk, food pouches, wet wipes, knitting needles and wool. The response of this effort was so great that the organisers wondered how they would be able to transport it all down to Kent, before it continued its journey across Europe.
- Items donated for the refugees in Leros, Greece
- Items for the refugees in Leros
- Items donated for the refugees in Leros
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The operation to take the donations began on a Tuesday night with all of the items being collected from the St Albans chapel. The young people and leaders made a human chain and speedily loaded up a van that had been kindly made available by a local company. Early the following morning the van was driven down to Kent where the donations would be combined with other donations before being transported to Leros.
This particular batch of donations were destined for young girls aged 10, 11 and 12, a particularly vulnerable group of people. The conditions in the refugee camps is very dangerous, especially for children.
Jackie Blanchard, who was involved in organising this relief project along with Joyce Farnsworth, and many others said, “My husband and I had a quiet journey home as we reflected on the plight of these young women, and were very humbled and grateful to be able to bring a little light into such a dark place. The women in the St Albans area should know that they succoured the weak, lifted up the hands that hang down and strengthened the feeble knees”.