Thank you, NEU

This weekend we’ve had amazing help in Calais from a group of our friends from the National Education Union.

More than 20 members made the journey from the UK, arriving with donations, smiles and tons of energy.

It’s been a horrendous weekend, with the electricity in the warehouse failing, and torrential rain flooding our compound and the warehouse itself. But when things like this happen our volunteers become even more determined and hard-working.

Just to give an idea of the behind-the-scenes work they do, they:

– mopped up

– emptied and tidied containers

– sorted donations

– re-sorted the toiletries supplies

– made up packs of SIM cards and socks

– sorted 450 fleeces, and joggers for distributions

–  shopped for food for the day’s distribution, and made up the food packs

…and unloaded a big donation of teabags they had brought. This was great to see as we use more 2500 teabags a week in the summer, and many more in the winter!

With a big group, this all becomes easier so we were so grateful to them and of course to our regular volunteers.

Having a lot of volunteers meant we could give out more, and the weekend our distributions in Calais have been wet and cold but also energetic and fun. We gave out food packs, which are always important but never more so than when the weather is cold and wet like now, and fleeces of all sizes, which the refugees were very pleased to get.

The NEU, which represents people working in education, has been  wonderful in their endless support for Care4Calais and for refugees. When we see them campaigning for us, and showing how much their care about refugees and asylum seekers, it’s a massive inspiration and encouragement. The NEU truly believes that care and compassion can be organised to change things for the better, and that message comes through when you talk to individual members. We’ve had lots of of empowering conversations about how promote change, and how to get practical help to people in need, and the influence of these will linger long after these guys head off back to the UK.

Thank you to the NEU – we’ll be thinking of you every time we put the kettle on!