We need your help for just a small amount of time this Sunday afternoon/early evening or Monday morning. You won't recognise the New London Hall: it will look like a cross between a warehouse, a sorting office and a loading bay, as we’re collecting, packing and dispatching various goods to organisations that help refugees and asylum seekers. As a people, we’ve known what it means to be displaced so this is close to our hearts.  “You shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Vayikra 19: 34

* BRING your donations from 1.00 to 3.00  (cheder families can bring them in the morning)

* MAKE a greetings card when you drop off your donations

* HELP sort, weigh and pack from 12.30 onwards or deliver at 5.00

* We also need volunteer drivers for Monday morning (to pick up around 9 and make one delivery to Holloway)

..Wondering what you can give? Wonder no more! Read on for our wish lists and the names of the organisations we’re supporting. They’re carefully chosen so whatever you don’t need or can buy, we’ll find a home for it.

IF IT DOUBT, BRING IT ON! - If you can buy things NEW, here’s our TOP TEN (in no particular order).
They don’t have to be luxury quality. You get more with supermarket own brands, multi-packs, special offers and purchases from a cash-‘n’-carry or discount store.

1. phone cards—you can also bring cash and our volunteers will buy them for you
2. jumpers, sweatshirts or other warm tops for young adults
3. hats, gloves and scarves
4. underpants, especially for adults
5. disposable nappies
6. rice and pulses—can you get large bags for us to weigh?
7. tinned tuna
8. tinned tomatoes
9. baby milk
10. breakfast cereal

If you’re rifling through your wardrobe, larder, desk, toy cupboard and so on, look out for these.

FOOD—especially…
* rice, pulses and cereals
* cans of tuna and tomatoes
* cereal bars, snacks and sweets for young people: refugee and asylum seeking children and young people like treats, too!
* that special something that would be nice for a Christmas meal
… but ANY ‘in life’ non-perishable, unopened food and drink - It doesn’t need to be kosher!

CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES AND SHOES—especially…
* gloves, hats and scarves
* jumpers, sweatshirts and other warm tops
* flip flops and slippers
* mini umbrellas
… but ANY clean and wearable clothing for babies, children, teenagers and adults
Only smelly shoes and underpants that have been worn are a NO-NO!

TOILETRIES - especially…
* nappies (can be open, partly used packets)
* waterproof toilet bags
* ‘unwanted gifts’, such as pampering products, that would be good as a Christmas present 
…but ANY unused toiletries

ART MATERIALS, STATIONERY AND BOOKS—especially…
* exercise books and small notepads
* ball-point and gel pens
* colouring pencils and felt-tip pens
* English dictionaries
* books suitable for children and for adults learning English
…but ANY materials for writing, drawing, painting and modelling 

HOUSEHOLD GOODS - especially…
* towels
* bedding, including sleeping bags for the homeless 
But ANY crockery, cutlery, cooking equipment, curtains and table linen…
Sadly, we CAN’T take electrical or gas appliances.
NO shmutzy pots!

TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT—especially…for children aged 5—11
But toys, games and sports equipment for ANY age

THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS!
Just turn out your cupboards and donate whatever you don’t need. We can pass on ANYTHING you have in your room, home or office
EXCEPT furniture or electrical and gas appliances.

AND ALSO PACKING MATERIALS FOR US TO USE—especially…
* cardboard boxes
* clean bin bags and large carrier bags
* pieces of bubble wrap
* newspaper
 
THE ORGANISATIONS WE’RE SUPPORTING — AND HOW WE’RE SUPPORTING THEM

LONDON DETAINEE SUPPORT GROUP www.ldsg.org.uk provides emotional and practical support to immigration detainees: many are in detention for years, waiting for their case to be resolved. They all feel very isolated and are anxious about their family in the UK or abroad. 

We’re giving phone cards.

New North London Synagogue ASYLUM-SEEKER DROP-IN is on a Sunday afternoon each month, organised by our sister synagogue. Refugee and asylum-seeking families receive advice, food and clothing.
 
We’re giving nappies, new underwear and non-perishable food.

SALUSBURY WORLD www.salusburyworld.org.uk is a local, after-school and holiday facility for children and their families, with a national reputation and broad influence.

We’re giving toys, games, sports equipment, stationery and art materials.

ST MARY MAGDALENE CENTRE www.stmarymagdalenecentre.org.uk is an impressive and inspiring place in Holloway for refugees and asylum seekers. They provide classes in English and other subjects, run a clothes stall, provide weekly food parcels and give Christmas presents.  

We’re giving food, toiletries, clothing, household goods, books and stationery, and special items for Christmas gifts.

THE SEPARATED CHILD FOUNDATION www.separatedchild.org focuses on young people who are orphaned or had no parents with them as they fled war, persecution and terror, and are alone as they seek asylum in Britain. 

We’re giving essentials for their ‘Arrival Packs’, including jumpers and sweatshirts, and warm hats, gloves and scarves. And we’re making greetings cards to go into the Arrival Packs, too.

If you can volunteer on Sunday 15 November…
or if you’re not sure what to donate…
or if you have any questions
contact Angela Gluck (020 8933 4588 angela@insted.co.uk)