Care4Calais’ personal shopping service

We call it our Personal Shopping service.

Most refugees arrive here with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Some are given flip-flops and a thin cotton top and trousers and on landing, but that’s it. That’s one reason our clothes donations mean so much. But there’s a lot more to what our volunteers do than just hand out random garments.

When C4C volunteers distribute clothing, they guide individuals and small groups around the clothes displays, picking out things they think people would like. In this photo from a recent distribution in East London, Catherine (left) a volunteer in east London, is showing a dress to Judah from Sudan. It’s all a part of our work helping refugees and asylum seekers to feel more human.

Refugees and asylum seekers have told us how much they appreciate it. “You showed me kindness,” one lady told us at the distribution. “It meant a lot, because I haven’t known kindness for years.”

And yes, she did really say “years.”

Remember, if you come in the back of a lorry, you can’t carry a suitcase. If you come in a boat, you aren’t allowed luggage because they pack in as many people as possible.

And if you’ve spent time as a refugee in Calais, the chances are you’ll have had your clothes and belongings confiscated by the police.

So the donations we receive, and our personal shoppers, are about more than keeping people warm. When you send us just one item, you’re helping to restore someone’s dignity.

Please send us something today. To donate go to care4calais.org/get-involved/

Photography: Daniela Sbrisney