Supporting after Samos: Volunteer Fundraising
The seasonal clothes distribution is a key part of Samos Volunteers, giving people the freedom to choose their clothes and contributing to a dignified experience for our community here on Samos. Extreme temperatures, frequent arrivals to the island year round, and the often long stays in the camp mean that there is a constant need for clothing. The free shop relies heavily on private donations and support from our community across the world – a way for former volunteers to make a lasting impact even after leaving the island.
Recently, we spoke to Fleur, one of our previous volunteers, who organised and collected donations from her home community. While volunteering in the free shop, she firsthand saw the importance of donations. Because of that, the motivation to start came easy: “Knowing how many perfectly good items my friends and family had tucked away in their closets and didn't really use, it felt like an easy choice to start collecting donations”.
With the help of her community in the Netherlands, she sent 3 pallets of clothes to our warehouse – including much needed items like men’s trousers, and women’s hijabs and modest clothing. Donations like these make a tangible difference for the visitors to the shop, ensuring they have access to a variety of clothing. For Fleur, being able to continue her support for Samos Volunteers, even after leaving the island, “is about being a part of something bigger than myself and offering practical assistance where it's desperately needed” .
Are you wondering how to do it yourself? Here are some practical tips from Fleur – and how she did it!
Make it simple
Her main goal was to make it as simple as possible for everyone:
She sent a message to everyone in her community, asking for either clothes or financial contributions, and asked them to send it forward.
She set up two convenient drop-off locations in the cities where most of her loved ones lived.
Those who preferred could make a financial donation to cover shipping costs through a link sent with the message.
Involve your community
She reached out to her football club, knowing they were already organising a fundraiser festival for Doctors Without Borders, and they allowed her to set up a collection point there as well.
She also reached out to a previous volunteer who collected modest clothes from her mosque – which was in huge shortage of in the Free Shop – and the response was absolutely amazing.
Other friends helped cut down on the shipping cost through their company, showing how Fleur’s community came together to support – “It truly showed me that if you put your intentions out into the world, people are often eager to help”.
Biggest tip from Fleur
“My biggest tip for anyone thinking about doing something similar is: just do it! It's really not as hard as it looks, and the time and effort you put in are so incredibly worth it. You might be surprised by the generosity of your community, and the feeling of making a tangible difference is truly rewarding.”
Don’t hesitate – reach out to us if you want to support us from your own community.
Written by Helene Gottlieb, Communications Officer.