CHURCHES of Weymouth and Portland have collected just over 500 boxes of donations for refugees.

Winter clothes, bedding, toiletries and other items were dropped off, sorted and repackaged at St Aldhelm’s Church, Weymouth, last week.

The Revd Anni Douglas, REFRESH co-ordinator, and other church leaders backed the appeal.

Speaking to the Echo, the Revd Douglas said: “I heard about this appeal that the refugee camps in Jordan, Syria and Iraq are needing warm winter clothes.

“There’s a lady called Samara who set up the Samara Aid Appeal. I said we’d join in.

“I asked the church leaders and they said it was a good idea.

“I had no idea how much would come in. It’s just fantastic what people have given.

“I had a whole box of baby clothes knitted by one lady. I can’t believe the response.”

The boxes were delivered to a depot in Worthing last Friday.

The donations, which included new items of clothing, were packed by the Revd Douglas and volunteers into banana boxes.

The final total of boxes is believed to have amounted to just over 500.

The Revd Douglas joked: “How many people in Weymouth are eating bananas?”

Each box will cost £5 to ship across. If people still wish to donate, the Revd Douglas suggested donating money online.

She said: “Our shipment is going to refugee camps in Iraq where there are two million people.”

The Revd Douglas said she only thought they’d have 20 boxes to send across and was therefore overwhelmed with the response.

She said: “Thanks to everybody who has helped and to the three people who have driven the vans to Worthing.”

The Revd Douglas said they had received a high quality set of donations, which had arrived for the most part washed, clean and folded.

If you would like to find out more about the Samara Aid Appeal and donate, please visit samarasaidappeal.org.