On Saturday I brought some warm clothes to Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action collection hub at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Dumfries. I then stayed behind to document an overwhelming compassionate response to the humanitarian crisis, local community efforts and positive atmosphere at the drop off point.

The region wide Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action was called just a few days prior and concentrated around the Facebook group, initially called just Massive Outpouring of Love, that was started by Moxie DePaulitte, the Herold of the Stove artist network. Over two thousand locals joined this group immediately. Some opened their facilities to print posters, others came up with logistics, drop off locations and sorting. later the local council stepped in and assisted with centralised depots, vacuum packing and transport, but the initial force propelling Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action and touching the hearts of all those involved was grass root, unfolding under my very eyes.

Hundreds of compassionate Doonhamers turned up with donations, bringing blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothes, nappies, toiletries and other necessities that can help to elevate the life of the refugees stranded in Calais camp. Candle lamps, outdoor barbecue sheets, pots and pans, bags of onions, vegetable oil – people thought of everything!

Determined volunteer sorters spent hours to categorise and pack donated goods ready for transportation. The local pizzeria, Dante’s, sent piles of pizza and chips for all the volunteers free of charge. Kids wrote notes of love and support and drew hearts to add to the food boxes to express solidarity with those in need. Indeed, it was a Massive Outpouring of Love there.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints offered their hall as D&G Refugee Action drop off zone in Dumfries
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints offered their hall as D&G Refugee Action drop off zone in Dumfries
Local bring in donations, Dumfries town centre in the distance
Locals with donations, Dumfries town centre in the distance
Bringing blankets for the refugees, critical with the cold weather coming
Bringing blankets for the refugees, critical as the cold weather is coming
Greeted and directed by the volunteer
Greeted and directed by the volunteer
Within hours the hall was overflowing with donations and some of the sorting action was brought outdoors
Within hours the church hall was overflowing with donations and some of the sorting action was brought outdoors
Bags of onions for Calais camp
Bags of onions for Calais camp
... and bottles of vegetable oil
… and bottles of vegetable oil
A table with art supplies where anyone could write a note of love and solidarity and draw pictures
A table with art supplies where anyone could write a note of love and solidarity and draw pictures
Kid's hearts for Calais
Kid’s hearts for Calais
Receiving the offerings
Receiving the offerings
Tireless volunteers spent hours sorting and packing the aid
Tireless volunteers spent hours sorting the aid
Packing shoes
Packing shoes
An overflowing mountain of socks
An overflowing mountain of socks
Folding blankets
Folding blankets
Boxing
Boxing
Lighthearted and positive atmosphere among the volnteers
Light-hearted and positive atmosphere among the volunteers
Adding notes of love to food boxes
Adding notes of love to food boxes
You are not alone...
You are not alone…
Massive Outpouring of Love - Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action at work
Massive Outpouring of Love – Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action at work

Similar Posts