Community
Overwhelming response to Glasgow Jewry's appeal for Afghan refugees
Aid effort becomes interfaith with Muslim solving storage crisis after donations fill communal premises
September 20, 2021 13:06
Aid effort becomes interfaith with Muslim solving storage crisis after donations fill communal premises
September 20, 2021 13:06A Glasgow couple’s efforts to support Afghan refugees has mushroomed into an interfaith campaign, attracting thousands of donations.
Inspired by the overwhelming response to an appeal for goods organised by Bushey Synagogue last month, Vicci and Sammy Stein distributed flyers to shuls asking for assistance.
They also involved Scotland’s senior rabbi, Moshe Rubin, who was “very, very supportive”, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council and the Glasgow Afghan United group.
Almost immediately, “we knew that this was going to be another Bushey”, Mrs Stein said.
Carloads of items ranging from brand new vacuum cleaners to baby products quickly piled up in rooms at the city’s Maccabi, Jewish Care and Cosgrove Care premises.
Storage quickly became an issue with the Steins’ own living room filling up with items. They “didn’t know what to do next”.
But as news of the appeal spread beyond the Jewish community, a Muslim volunteer stepped in, securing additional storage space through her contacts.
Calderwood Lodge and St Clare’s - the Jewish and Catholic primary schools which share a site in a pioneering venture - contributed toiletries and women’s sanitary items.
There was also backing across the political divide as volunteers from local SNP, Labour and Conservative offices got on board.
“I was really thrilled,” Mrs Stein said. “It was terrific.”
Such was the response that organisers eventually had to turn away donations. Surplus items will go to a variety of causes.
“There are a number of Afghan refugee charities and we’re going there first,” Mrs Stein explained.
“But we will have to take this a bit wider. There’s so much need in Glasgow. There are homeless people, women’s shelters.”