More than 250 pairs of boots are en route to Calais, where they will be handed out to refugees living in the miserable conditions of The Jungle.
The brand-new waterproof footwear will be donated to people in desperate need just as French authorities prepare to destroy medical, aid and legal centres, libraries, mosques, schools and kitchens that have been established in the camp.
The boots have been donated by kind-hearted Wokingham people who have responded to an appeal made by Richard Smith and his partner. The couple launched the fund after travelling to Calais at Christmas to help distribute aid at The Jungle, where thousands of refugees are living.
The couple said that their experience moved them so much that they wanted to offer more practical help, launching the appeal to find £10,000 to fund the new boots.
Mr Smith, who is director of music at All Saints Church in Wiltshire Road, said that passing on second hand shoes is not an option as it is difficult to check the quality of them all. Wellies are also useless as they get stuck in the mud and, without socks, they’re also cold.
The appeal has been judged a success with the first batch of 250 boots on their way to France, with more on the way.
Mr Smith told The Wokingham Paper: “We’ve had an absolutely phenomenal response from people. We have had well over 150 donations and Norreys Church gave us £1,000 out their funds – phenomenal.
“We’ve also had donations from round the country. People have been really generous.
“I think the thing that stops people from helping the refugees is that they don’t know how to respond. There are not many obvious channels. If you give people an opportunity to help, they will.”
It has taken Mr Smith several weeks to find enough boots to take over, and he is keen to ensure they are distributed before the authorities come in and destroy parts of the camp. A report by The Independent said that the area affected is one where families with young children, and vulnerable people are living.
Mr Smith said: “It might make distribution of the boots more difficult. We have back-up plans and there are people over there who can pitch in to help.”
On his return from the camp, Mr Smith will give a talk and an update at a public meeting.
“We’ve learnt a lot over the past few weeks,” he added. “This is a crisis that is not going away.”
For more details on the campaign visit www.bootswithoutborders.org.uk.
To go straight to the donation page, visit gogetfunding.com/boots-without-borders.
