One Small Island, One Big Idea, & 6000 Refugees

This summer, my family had the wonderful opportunity to visit with my sister who for the past 12 years has been living with her family on the Greek Island of Lesvos. 

Since they have lived on Lesvos, there has always been a trickle of refugees coming to the island, but the summer of 2015 was catastrophic with up to 6000 refugees arriving in one day from Turkey. 

My sister and her church (Evangelical Church of Mytilene) provided food for the refugees and in early 2016 set up a refugee day center in Mytilene (the largest town on the island).  When I was there this summer I had the opportunity to go with her into the camps and visit with some of the women.  

One very warm evening in August, my sister and I had the idea of collecting wool and embroidery floss from Vancouver and sending it to Lesvos for the women to work with in the camps.

You may ask, why not buy the wool on Lesvos? The reality is that Lesvos is a small island with limited resources, and wool, yarn, and embroidery floss are limited in supply and expensive.  

Do you have any wool, yarn or embroidery floss in your closets and cupboards that you have no need for? Crochet hooks or knitting needles?  We would love to pass it on to the women in the camps who love crocheting and knitting.

If you are interested in taking part in this project there is a box in the office foyer of Tenth Church (11 West 10th Avenue, Entrance A) labelled Wool Drive for Lesvos Refugees where you can drop off your wool, yarn or embroidery floss donations.  

If you would like to donate, but don’t have any wool in your closets, you can also donate money to help with the cost of shipping.  

Thanks,

Dorothy Williams

Dorothy Williams is married to John Williams, our Pastor of Worship & Arts. She is a talented artist & mom of three.