Amy & Matt Help Refugees in Lesvos
Donation protected
Welcome to the fundraising page of Amy Luddington & Matt Gerbig for our Refugee Aid Trip to Lesvos. Let me tell you a little about why we are doing this, some of which you will know, some of which you won't...
The refugee crisis in Europe is reaching breaking point. As people from Syria and Afghanistan flee their countries and homes, their journey across Europe is full of unimaginable horrors and will only get worse over winter. Many of them- children, the elderly, women and men will die in such harsh, freezing conditions.
The journey for refugees via sea to the Greek Islands is tragic, many do not make it, the sea is a graveyard.. It's estimated 6.8k innocent refugees have drowned in the Mediterranean whilst taking that journey of "hope". For those who do make it, Lesvos is one of the islands they reach. An estimated 2,000 refugees arrive every day. As you can imagine, these people are so relieved and thankful to reach the shores alive. However, if you know anything about what happens after they arrive at Lesvos, you will know it is a desperate situation...
In Lesvos, aid and NGO presence is little to none. Families and children are queuing in the pouring rain for up to five days to simply get registered. Children have no shoes, and their feet are rotting in the mud. Babies are extremely malnourished and sick. And the people are starving and dehydrated. Volunteers already out there say the conditions are inhumane. They predict many will die over the winter months if something doesn't happen. After following the stories and volunteers out there for some time, enough is enough, we are going out there to help.
What are we fundraising for?
We are taking a trip mid November to Lesvos to volunteer for a week. The money raised will go DIRECTLY to buying supplies (we have covered our own travel & accommodation expenses). We plan to rent a car so that we can buy supplies out there and take them exactly where they are needed. The most current information says that refugees are desperately short of survival blankets, waterproof clothing, tents, medicine, food, water, shoes, baby bottles, baby slings. Every single penny counts in this crisis. If we are lucky enough to reach our goal and beyond, we can help other hands-on volunteer organizations stock up on blankets and other supplies for the upcoming months. Refugees are arriving by the thousands every day, and the numbers continue to grow. No donations will go to waste.
Please, please, please donate what you can, we cannot stand idly by as this horror unfolds, we can all make a difference...
For more information on what's happening in Lesvos, checkout these articles;
New Yorker - A Tragedy Unfolds in Lesvos
Huffington Post - Life in Lesbos: "The Children's Feet Are Rotting - You Guys Have One Month and Then All These People Will Be Dead"
The refugee crisis in Europe is reaching breaking point. As people from Syria and Afghanistan flee their countries and homes, their journey across Europe is full of unimaginable horrors and will only get worse over winter. Many of them- children, the elderly, women and men will die in such harsh, freezing conditions.
The journey for refugees via sea to the Greek Islands is tragic, many do not make it, the sea is a graveyard.. It's estimated 6.8k innocent refugees have drowned in the Mediterranean whilst taking that journey of "hope". For those who do make it, Lesvos is one of the islands they reach. An estimated 2,000 refugees arrive every day. As you can imagine, these people are so relieved and thankful to reach the shores alive. However, if you know anything about what happens after they arrive at Lesvos, you will know it is a desperate situation...
In Lesvos, aid and NGO presence is little to none. Families and children are queuing in the pouring rain for up to five days to simply get registered. Children have no shoes, and their feet are rotting in the mud. Babies are extremely malnourished and sick. And the people are starving and dehydrated. Volunteers already out there say the conditions are inhumane. They predict many will die over the winter months if something doesn't happen. After following the stories and volunteers out there for some time, enough is enough, we are going out there to help.
What are we fundraising for?
We are taking a trip mid November to Lesvos to volunteer for a week. The money raised will go DIRECTLY to buying supplies (we have covered our own travel & accommodation expenses). We plan to rent a car so that we can buy supplies out there and take them exactly where they are needed. The most current information says that refugees are desperately short of survival blankets, waterproof clothing, tents, medicine, food, water, shoes, baby bottles, baby slings. Every single penny counts in this crisis. If we are lucky enough to reach our goal and beyond, we can help other hands-on volunteer organizations stock up on blankets and other supplies for the upcoming months. Refugees are arriving by the thousands every day, and the numbers continue to grow. No donations will go to waste.
Please, please, please donate what you can, we cannot stand idly by as this horror unfolds, we can all make a difference...
For more information on what's happening in Lesvos, checkout these articles;
New Yorker - A Tragedy Unfolds in Lesvos
Huffington Post - Life in Lesbos: "The Children's Feet Are Rotting - You Guys Have One Month and Then All These People Will Be Dead"
Organizer
Amy Luddington
Organizer
