East Wittering pub collecting clothes for Calais refugees

Maddie Silcocks, of the Thatched Tavern, in East Wittering, is collecting donations to take to Calais on September 21.

“You see all sorts of stuff on social media happening and on the news,” she said.

“It was something I couldn’t get out of my head. I was lying in bed at night thinking about it.

She decided to take action and is collecting clothes, tents and more to help people.

The drop-off point is at the pub in Church Road, PO20 8PU.

She is especially looking for trainers or hiking shoes, tents, covers, tarpaulin, size, small and medium jackets, travelling bags, socks, candles or other lighting implements and belts.

She also needs tracksuit trousers, jeans size 28-32, blankets, sleeping bags, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, plastic bags, woolly hats, pants, pots, pans.

“Men outnumber women in the camp ten to one so at this moment in time, women and children’s clothes are not needed,” she said, adding there was already a good supply of sheets, pillows, suits, town shoes, jumpers and wellington boots.

The final donation day is September 19. The next day, Maddie will be driving to London for all the donations to be sorted and packaged. On the September 21, she will drive to Calais with CalAid to distribute the donations.

To find out more go to www.facebook.com/events/1493664997620656

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