As a part of our commitment to give back to our community in these difficult times, our team decided to spend our volunteering day at Refutrees, selling Christmas trees for the Aid Box Community hub in Bristol. We also wanted to do more for ABC at source, so we put out a collection box at Future Leap to gather donations of items which are needed at Aid Box. Before the start of our volunteering we delivered the items to the centre!
Who are Aid Box Community?
The Aid Box Community (ABC) centre is a Bristol-based humanitarian organisation set up by group of ordinary people in response to the continuing refugee crisis. They support refugees with their free shop, activity groups and helping build connections.
ABC was founded in 2015 by Imogen Mcintosh who was inspired after seeing traumatic images of Syrian refugees in the media. ABC sells Christmas trees every year to raise funds to continue helping refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol.
There are multiple shifts you can sign up for – we did the 2.30pm to 7pm on one of the busiest days of the year on Gloucester Road, Christmas shopping night (8th Dec). Our work included netting Christmas trees, delivering to local postcodes, carrying trees to cars, unloading new supplies from van, replenishing tree stock etc. All trees were locally sourced at Frenchay Forestry!
Ezo Yildiz, our team member and ABC volunteer says, ‘Coming from a refugee family, I understand the struggles that displaced families face in new countries. Today we have done something that may seem small to some, but in reality, the money raised today impacts refugee families that are struggling in Bristol. And each family that we help is a change in itself.”
This was a great opportunity for us to spend a day together as a team for a meaningful cause. We particularly want to thank Naomi Morse for helping us arrange it all and to the great people we met at Aid Box including Netty and Maz who were there to train us. We helped sell £2600 worth of trees!
You can also donate to Aid Box Community. They are looking for donations of:
- Men’s sportswear, shorts, joggers (small and medium please)
- Women’s clothes
- Suitcases,
- New, unopened toiletries especially shampoo, razors and shaving gel
- Men’s and Women’s trainers (Must be good condition)
- Adults and children’s backpacks
- New underwear – adults and children
- Double and single duvet covers
- Rugs
- Saucepans
- Small electrical items such as toasters, kettles and heaters.
- Crockery
- Kitchen utensils,
- Double duvets
- Cooking oil, coffee, tea, sugar, biscuits, rice, tinned fruit, tuna etc
- Notebooks
- Umbrellas
- Pillows
- Men’s winter coats
- Gloves, hats and scarves
You need to label with name of item, size and male, female or unisex. Deliver to 174b Cheltenham Rd, Montpelier, BS6 5RE on weekdays between 11am & 3pm or email [email protected] to arrange collection.
If you would like to find out more about ABC website or join Aid Box Community volunteering click here.
Becky Lomas