SUPPLIES donated from across Monmouthshire and beyond have arrived in Syria, after a 40 foot shipping container sent from Caldicot completed its four week journey.

The container was filled with much-need clothing, medical supplies and foodstuffs donated from across the county, which have been distributed to refugees and families across Syria. The aid was sent by action group iNEED in partnership with One Nation charity on 25th November 2015.

Now, after the overwhelming success of the first container, iNEED are planning to fill and send a second one within the next month. They are appealing for volunteers to help sort through donated items at their new warehouse in Caldicot in preparation. Businesses or individual volunteers are sought to help transfer items from the storage warehouse to the container pickup point. Volunteers to help load the container when the dispatch day is confirmed are also requested. The need for donated supplies continues, with emphasis on tinned and dried foodstuffs.

iNEED are also participating in the Kit for Kids project, which aims to send complete sets of clothes to refugee children arriving in Greece. The group are seeking Monmouthshire schools and businesses that would be interested in participating in the scheme. iNEED will provide suitable empty bags, which are to be filled with a complete outfit of warm clothes meant for one child of a certain age and gender. The bag is to contain new underwear and socks, one vest, trousers, a long sleeved t-shirt, a fleece or jumper, a waterproof coat, and wooly gloves or a hat. The bags will then be collected and dispatched to Greece, and given to newly-arrived refugee children, who oftentimes arrive from their journey in wet, freezing clothes.

Those interested in volunteering or donating in any way are encouraged to contact refugeesineed @gmail.com, and visit iNEED’s Facebook group or website at www.refugeesineed.org.uk for updates and drop-off locations and times.