From rags to riches...or at least a tale of discarded clothes transformed into welcome gifts and dignity for those who have lost everything in their search for a new homeland.
Students and teachers of St Thomas More Language College in Chelsea put their faith into action as they responded in love to those who most needed help this autumn. Raiding wardrobes and cupboards and asking for donations produced a mountain of warm clothing to send to our brothers and sisters arriving in Greece.
Lesvos, Greece. With its aqua-blue waters, olive-tree studded hills and well-preserved ancient ruins, this jewel in the Aegean Sea has seen a year of unparalleled migration to Europe from the Middle East. Over a million refugees entered Greece from Turkey in 2015 alone and thousands are still arriving on the island of Lesvos, even after the European Union signed a deal with Turkey aimed at restricting the flow of people.
Miss Michaelides a teacher in the College has family on Lesvos. The reports she has been receiving from the island are very distressing and tell of dozens of boats carrying hundreds of human beings arriving on the island every single day, all in need of help and protection from the elements. Tragedy is also commonplace, as can be seen from the recent high-profile news reports.
In true St Thomas More Language College fashion, our community rose to the challenge of responding to the suffering of others with compassion and determination. We were overwhelmed by the generous clothing donations received in November all of which have resulted in half a tonne of nearly-new and new clothing being sorted, packed and parcelled, ready to be sent to those who need it the most in the new year! Special thanks must be given to all those who were able to donate and to those students and teachers who lent a much-needed hand in getting everything ready for shipment. As a result, hundreds of refugees will receive warm clothing and shoes to see them through the winter months. We even had a professional company ship the items free of charge to Lesvos.
Students always respond well to the invitation to show how much they care for their brother or sister in need, either with fundraising events, sponsored activities, non-uniform days or the like, but the response to this particular request was truly humbling. The room set aside for the storage of clothing soon proved inadequate to the task and additional space was sought.
In a very real sense our young people and their families sought in this Year of Mercy to clothe the naked and to welcome the pilgrim. We each looked again at our own gifts and how we might use them wisely for the furthering of God’s kingdom of love, of peace and of justice.
Fr Antony, the College Chaplain, said:
'I am always very proud of our young people and the passion they embody for the Common Good; how they interpret the Gospel charge to be salt and light. In this simple collection they have helped so many who will never know their names; but will know, that they are loved, are of value and that someone somewhere truly cares for them and for their well-being. What a wonderful way to begin this extraordinary Year of Mercy reaching out to those who most need to see the Merciful face of the Father.'
St Thomas More Language College is a mixed 11-16 Catholic Secondary School serving the Diocese of Westminster situated just off Sloane Square in central London. Please visit their website for more information: www.stmlc.co.uk.
For inspiration and advice on how you can help refugees, come along to our Refugee Volunteer Evening on 26 January! Please click here for more information.
