Trying times in Calais, but our volunteers are amazing

Today we’d like to thank our current team of volunteers in Calais, for doing the most incredible job in the most horrific of circumstances.

In the last week refugees in Calais have faced particularly some violent, traumatising events.

A young Sudanese man was killed when he fell under a lorry’s wheels, just a few days after another Sudanese refugee died after being hit by traffic.

A mass eviction in Calais left hundreds without shelter and spare clothes, this coming just two weeks after another huge eviction in Dunkirk.

And the authorities ploughed up one of our main distribution sites, making it difficult for us to get essentials to people.

Every single time, the magnificent group of people in this picture worked extra hard to respond immediately. This week alone they’ve given out

• 250 two-person food packs
• 160 two-person tents
• 320 sleeping bags
• 480 baselayer packs (T shirt, boxers, socks and SIM cards)
• 180 hoodies

To do this they’ve worked together at all hours. Driving out to the sites. Giving out what was required. Driving back to load up – and going out again. Out on those sites they’ve talked to refugees and listened to stories of what they’ve been through, and how they’re feeling.

Events like those of the last week send shock waves through the refugee community here. They make people feel they’re not wanted, or even hated. This week our volunteers have not only told the refugees here that people cared about them; with their actions, they’ve shown just how true that is.

All our volunteers are wonderful people. And time after time over the years, when disaster has struck we’ve seen people achieve genuinely awe-inspiring acts of kindness; they often say later that they found inspiration in other volunteers and refugees to find new, untapped reserves in themselves. That’s certainly been true in Calais in the last few days.

We always need new volunteers, and if you could help, even with just a few hours, see link in bio

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