Refugee families were given a welcome festive gift this year after a charity sent more than 100,000 toys and goods across two countries.
After receiving an SOS call from charities working in Kurdistan and Greece, founder of Goods for Good, Rosalind Bluestone, jumped at the chance to help out.
Goods for Good, a Borehamwood-based charity specialises in sending out overstocked and unwanted goods to people in need.
Alongside toys, Ms Bluestone was able to source winter clothing including socks, hats, scarves, and gloves, to help people deal with any challenging cold weather they may face. She contacted shop companies and says she was “overwhelmed” by the immediate and positive response.
The charity founder said: “Following Chanukah and then Christmas, it is a time for generosity and giving. To think of mothers without shampoo, blankets, shoes for their toddlers, or nappies for their babies is unimaginable.
“The charities also asked us for small Christmas gifts for children who have been traumatized by war and the brutal loss of parents, brothers and sisters. Many are orphans. On Mitzvah Day, Gila’s Nursery children prepared beautiful Christmas cards for the refugee children.”
Goods for Good responded to calls for help from Northern Lights Aid, who support more than 500 people living in a refugee camp in eastern Greece, and Bring Hope who help people in Kurdistan.
Rachel Bromell, a volunteer at Northern Lights, said: “I have been volunteering with Northern Lights Aid for over six months now, and Kavala in Greece has become a second home for me. I came out for just two weeks at first, but the joy, compassion and strength I witnessed, caused me to abandon any plans to return home.
“For over a year we have been drastically short of men’s shoes in particular. The men work hard, they fish for their families, walk miles to access facilities they need. It was a true shame that we had no shoes to offer them.
“The relationship Goods for Good, meant we were able to give every man in the camp a brand-new pair of stylish, comfortable trainers.”
To find out more about Goods for Good or help with their mission to transport more stock across the world, visit www.goodsforgood.org.uk
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