My friends and I were in Calais volunteering with Care4Calais all week over New Year delivering vital aid to vulnerable refugees who are stuck in the cold and rain in Calais. Unfortunately, the much-needed minibus had a puncture – and there were no spare tyres! A fundraiser was urgently needed.
Care4Calais is an absolute lifeline going to multiple distribution sites across Calais and Dunkirk every day of the year supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
Some people have been in Calais and Dunkirk for three years in makeshift shelters with just the clothes they stand up in.
Puncture
During our visit the Care4Calais minibus was taking volunteers to Dunkirk to distribute hot drinks, barbering, hairdressing, mobile phone charging, games, English lessons, collecting litter, giving out advice on Rwanda, distributing blankets and tarpaulins. On the main highway the tyre hit a puncture. Team Leader Ollie helped by long-time volunteer Lesley from London changed the tyre on side of road. However, they then had no spare tyres left – they were beyond repair.
Fundraiser
I set up a small fundraiser to raise £400 to buy spare tyres to ensure the charity can get to people who desperately need help. The target was met in just six hours from very kind donations. The final amount raised was £765.
And the good news is that they now have a grand total of eight spare tyres! Thank you to everyone who helped.
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