A small act of kindness in message form

Yesterday I was sorting through donated coats in our Calais warehouse when I noticed that one snug-looking men’s parka had something bulky in the pocket.

I reached in and pulled out two packs of tissues, a tube of moisturiser, and a note that said simply “Stay strong. You are not alone. XXX” Standing there in our chilly warehouse, I felt a little pang on my heart reading that. Someone out here had not only cared enough to donate a good, warm coat to help a refugee stay warm and dry; they had wanted the wearer to know that it came with love and empathy.

A few hours later I was talking to a friend who volunteers in Manchester who said that day she’d found something similar. Long into a backpack filled with new socks, toiletries and a teddy bear, she had found a note saying “Welcome warm wishes and good luck”.

Refugees here and in the UK are so often cruelly excluded and shunned by society. As one guy from Sudan once told me in Calais, “I stay away from the town, because a lot of people don’t like refugees. You start to think everyone wants to hurt you.” And let’s be honest, this is exactly what our Home Secretary wants them to feel; that’s why she stokes hatred with words like “invasion.”

The people who volunteer here, and those who send these vital donations, are amazing, compassionate people. We see it every day in the big and small things they do, and it makes me feel proud and inspired to be part of this huge movement of people who know a better, kinder world is possible. You can see the positivity in the picture from our Manchester warehouse!

Make no mistake, little words attached to these important donations can make a difference. They show people that NOT everyone feels the same.

And knowing that can give hope.