THERE has been a tremendous response from Tralee and the wider area to the current refugee crisis across Europe.
By the end of last weekend volunteers estimated that as much as two articulated lorries and a forty foot container filled with basic essentials from food and toiletries, to clothes and bedding, had been collected from around the Tralee area over a three week period.
“The response from people has been phenomenal and overwhelming” said Help for Humans, volunteer Grainne Landers.
Help for Humans volunteers at work sorting donations at their base on Maine Street. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
‘Help For Humans’ were started by Rathmore couple Gillian Taylor Smyth and Tony Smyth, who be heading to Northern Greece to administer the goods themselves within the next couple of weeks.
McAuliffe Trucking in Castleisland, have kindly donated the use of the trucks for the long journey across the continent.
There were five points in Tralee where items were donated and six outside of Tralee, such as Abbeydorney, Ardfert and Listowel. Schools in town also pitched in with the badly needed supplies.
The hub for sorting was on Maine Street, just opposite the Radio Kerry building, near the Kerry Islamic Outreach Society.
The room was bulging with boxes which have been sorted by volunteers who worked ten hour days, to keep up with tremendous outpouring of good will from the local community towards refugees making their way across Europe.
At this point the donations have been moved to a warehouse where they will be sorted once more to be put on lorries bound for Greece.
Such is the sheer volume of donations, a surplus of bedding and camping equipment has built up which will be donated to the Arlington Lodge homeless facility in town.
Earlier this year, the Kerry Islamic Outreach Society were involved in collections for the homeless, along with work with Tralee Tidy Towns and Banna Beach clean-ups.
You can donate financially for Help the Humans HERE
