THE latest collection by Farnham Help for Refugees has been hailed an enormous success, after three large van loads of warm clothing, toiletries and other sought-after items were donated for those in dire need this winter.

St Thomas-on-the Bourne Church was brimming with boxes, bags, medical equipment and volunteers as the group founded in 2015 to give humanitarian assistance to refugees coming into the UK, travelling across Europe and in camps in the Middle East hosted its seventh collection.

With temperatures beginning to plummet in the run-up to winter, the group specifically requested waterproof and warm clothing, sleeping bags and blankets as well as wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, basic medicines and toiletries - and donors rose to the challenge.

Volunteer Emma Bandey afterwards told The Herald: “Farnham residents again showed their support and compassion by donating much-needed aid. People even came from as far as Woking and Haslemere to donate.

“All the donations were taken to the High Wycombe Helping Others (HWHO) who send aid directly overseas. Also, a car load of toiletries was also taken to the British Red Cross in Portsmouth.

“As soon as they finished unpacking the car, the items so kindly donated by Farnham residents were being handed out.”

Farnham Help For Refugees is also supporting HWHO’s appeal for financial contributions towards its substantial storage costs.

Emma continued: “It is thanks to HWHO that we can run our regular collections and know that items are getting into the hands of those who need them. Their knowledge and experience on the ground helps guide and inform the items we request.

“But they have considerable storage costs because they need to store the aid before it goes on containers. Without them we’d be really scuppered in terms of being able to have aid collections. If people could make just £1 a month donation, it would really help sustain the organisation’s work.”

For more information find High Wycombe Helping Others’ page on Facebook or visit the highwycombehelping.wixsite.com/hwhelpingothers.