A new coat made this refugee feel first class!

This week in Calais we gave out 300 brand new winter coats to refugees who sleep outside. It wasn’t a minute too soon as temperatures are dropping and the nights here are long and cold.

The highlight of my day was a guy who found the coats were brand new and said “Today I am smart, I go first class!” He asked me to take his photo, so here it is.

The other major benefit of new coats is we buy ones that are waterproof, breathable, have warm linings and a hood. It matters when you are outside 24/7.

I met some amazing people on this cold grey day. An Afghan policeman who spoke incredible English; a Sudanese rapper with a younger brother in the UK; a chef from Nigeria who told me Care4Calais helped him rediscover his humanity after being forced into military service; and two Syrian boys just 13 years old who spend their bitterly cold nights trying to sleep under a bridge.

Some media reports make it seem as if all refugees are the same, one big mass of humanity, but nothing could be further from the truth. Every single person here has their own unique story and experience, and all are trying to cope with life here in their own way. The only thing thats similar is their yearning for safety, for security that would allow them to lead safe and normal lives.

What is amazing is how people’s humanity and dignity often seems all the greater in the face of the hostility and harsh conditions they have to endure.

Of course those harsh conditions are the other thing they have in common. That’s why our volunteers are here, working hard to make sure your donations get to the people who really need them. You can buy a gift to help a refugee get through the winter – see link in bio