THE next Farnham refugee aid collection will be held on Thursday, October 26, at St Thomas-on-the Bourne Church, Frensham Road from 2pm to 7pm. 

With the run-up to winter and as temperatures start to plummet, waterproof and warm clothing, along with sleeping bags and blankets are much needed.

Many refugees have fled war zones with life changing injuries so wheelchairs, crutches and walking sticks are top of the list of requests, as are basic medicines and toiletries.

The collection has been organised by Farnham Help for Refugees, a group of Farnham residents who wish to give humanitarian assistance to refugees coming into the UK, travelling across Europe and in camps in the Middle East.

This will be the seventh collection arranged by the group since it came together in autumn 2015, with donations distributed by various aid agencies across the Middle East, Europe and the UK. 

Its last collection, in June, saw people and businesses from all over the local area donate enough items to fill both a large van and a car full of much needed aid.

Items were sent directly to Syria with aid collected from Alton (Alton Aid) and other items were distributed by Red Cross in Portsmouth, where they operate a twice-weekly drop-in for refugees and asylum seekers in the area.

At any one time the Red Cross in Portsmouth is working with 150 individuals and families from a variety of places including Syria, Afghanistan, Chad and Sri Lanka.

Emma Bandey, of Farnham Help for Refugees, said: “Farnham has been very supportive in the previous collections and we hope they will help again with this latest appeal.”

Farnham Help for Refugees has worked with aid agencies to get a list of items needed, and as a result can only accept certain donations:

• Clothes for children and adults (new or used in good, clean condition) - warm/winter/waterproof coats and jackets, hats, scarfs and gloves, trainers and walking shoes (in good, clean condition. No wellies, Ugg boots or heels), tracksuit/jogging bottoms, fleeces and hoodies, jumpers and warm clothes generally, new underwear (pants and socks).

• Medical and other - sleeping bags and blankets (in good, clean condition), crutches, wheelchairs and walking sticks, new bandages/dressings, first aid packs, unopened non-prescription drugs (eg paracetamol, cold & flu remedies etc).

• Toiletries - toothbrushes and toothpaste, sanitary towels (not tampons), shampoo, deodorant, soap and shower gel, flannel, comb/hair brush.

• Mother and baby - nappies (disposable and re-usable), wipes, Calpol, nappy rash cream, baby clothes, baby blankets and bedding, moses baskets.

Emma added: “We are working with groups who have direct links on the ground and we know what is needed to help the most vulnerable. With winter coming, these items are needed now.”

Along with donating, the group is looking for volunteers to come and help sort all the donations on the Thursday afternoon/early evening.

Anyone able to come, even for an hour, is asked to email farnhamhelpfor

[email protected] or contact the group via its Facebook page www.facebook.com/farnhamhelpforrefugees.