Lesvos Refugee Aid Fundraiser Follow-up: Thank You!

You guys are the best!

A gigantic thank you to my readers and friends who donated a glorious $1525 (€1350, based on the day’s currency exchange) to refugee aid through my fundraiser.  I was able to distribute your donations, before all this went down, and your generosity has probably already been appreciated by refugees in the form of food, clothing and blankets.

I gave $1000 (€900) to the Dirty Girls of Lesvos

I was fortunate to meet with Alison Terry-Evans who founded Dirty Girls of Lesvos to give her your donations personally.  Dirty Girls (and boys) launder refugee clothing and blankets that were previously left at the beaches or camps and disposed of.  After cleaning, they supply the clothing warehouses with fresh clothes, sleeping bags, and blankets.

Not only does this provide size-appropriate and modesty-appropriate clothing to refugees but it has saved Lesvos from environmental disaster by keeping these items out of landfills.  For months, they have been washing up to 3000 blankets and up to 3000 kilos (6613 pounds) of clothing per day at a cost of roughly €10,000 ($11,165 US)/day!  That’s amazing!

A sock-pairing party with the Dirty Girls of Lesvos

Alison just made a trip to Athens and will be visiting refugee camps throughout Greece to assess the need for similar services elsewhere.  The work of the Dirty Girls of Lesvos will be ongoing.

Alison’s Message for Us:

I gave $525 (€450) to the Starfish Foundation.

This is the organization I worked with in Molyvos and I chose them as a recipient because I’m impressed with their adaptability, responding to the crisis in whatever way is needed that day.  With the situation changing so rapidly, moving quickly to provide aid is essential.  Starfish has its hands in many beneficial projects.  Last week, volunteers were frantically distributing food, raincoats, and clothing to refugees boarding the ferry and those stranded here on Lesvos.

The Starfish Foundation, like the Dirty Girls, will continue supporting refugees whether it’s on Lesvos or elsewhere.

Donate to Starfish Foundation

Thank you again for your generous financial support.  You have made a difference.