The overwhelming response we had to our Big Breakfast resulted in a mountain of clothing etc, donated for the refugees arriving in Europe. As Oxfam could only take a small amount we had to look at ways to get the goods to the people who need them. A contact in Hoxne is very happy to store the remainder of the donations until they are able to buy a van and transport them to the island of Symi. ‘A concert was held in Hoxne Church on the 7th November in aid of the refugee project Solidarity Symi, which is supported by a Hoxne resident whose brother lives on the island of Symi just off the Turkish coast. “Thousands of refugees have passed through Symi this year. They are not economic migrants; they are in flight from oppression, war and the deprivation of under-funded refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. By far the majority arriving on Symi are Syrian families. Solidarity Symi is well organised and run by local volunteers. It serves to support and assist the refugees in their journey. They have only received aid from individuals and charities”.’
