Rye refugee donations sent to Middle East

A van-full of donations from Rye for refugees in the Middle East were sent on their way this morning (Friday, February 5).
(L-R) Jon Crafer, Rev David Frost with with Sylvester the cat, John Lanigan, Janet Waddams and Sandra Lanigan with the van-full of donations(L-R) Jon Crafer, Rev David Frost with with Sylvester the cat, John Lanigan, Janet Waddams and Sandra Lanigan with the van-full of donations
(L-R) Jon Crafer, Rev David Frost with with Sylvester the cat, John Lanigan, Janet Waddams and Sandra Lanigan with the van-full of donations

Janet Waddams and others have been collecting clothes, blankets, food and all sorts to be sent to the refugee camps in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan.

This is the third round of collecting she has organised in a year and she said she is staggered by the support she has received.

“We were amazed, the stuff just piled in,” she said.

The van full of boxes of donations for the refugees to be taken to the Middle East via WorthingThe van full of boxes of donations for the refugees to be taken to the Middle East via Worthing
The van full of boxes of donations for the refugees to be taken to the Middle East via Worthing
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“This is the third lot; we did winter clothes last year, then summer clothes and this is the second lot of winter clothes.

“They’ve got nothing – you see children in the snow with no shoes – so I had to do something.”

Janet had been storing the donations in the St Mary’s Centre before the boxes were stuffed into a van to be taken to Worthing.

From there, the boxes will be part of a convoy of lorries organised by Samara’s Aid.

The van full of boxes of donations for the refugees to be taken to the Middle East via WorthingThe van full of boxes of donations for the refugees to be taken to the Middle East via Worthing
The van full of boxes of donations for the refugees to be taken to the Middle East via Worthing
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Janet has been dubbed as the mastermind behind the appeals but she said she could not have done it without the help from everyone else.

“It’s nothing really, everybody else has done it with me,” she said.

“You might have the idea but it’s just getting the ideas into practice.”

“I think people feel like it’s something they can do as you feel so helpless when you see these people on the news.

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“But this is just a little drop in the ocean there are million out there who need help.”

Jon Crafer of W Tollett builders offered to transport the boxes over to Worthing.

He said they often helps out good causes in Rye and was eager to get involved.

“We’re a local business, we employ local people and we support local things so we’re happy to help,” he said.

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“It’s half a day to run over there, bit of fuel and I’m the boss so it’s my wages not the other guys’.”

The work does not end as Janet reckons there will be more appeals in the future as the situation for millions of refugees will not end soon.

“I think it isn’t as yesterday I had an email from Samara saying that there’s going to be another one starting around Easter, so no it won’t be the last.

“Because once you start, how can you stop?”

If you want to donate to the next appeal call Janet on 01797 214089, or visit www.samarasaidappeal.org.

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