SUPPORT OUR WORK

As winter approaches, the lack of appropriate clothing distribution in the Closed-Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) remains a major challenge. Located in a remote, hilly area, the camp is exposed to harsh weather, and, while some containers have air conditioning units that can be used as heaters, whole sections of the camp are not provided with these. Without proper clothing, residents face severe discomfort, increased health risks, and a lack of basic dignity.

After taking over the warehouse and clothing distribution in 2022, we made it our mission to provide clean, quality clothing to everyone who needs it. Last winter, between November 2024 and May 2025, Samos Volunteers distributed 51,930 items – including shoes, warm clothing, and essential non-food items such as blankets and sleeping bags – to 5,088 people on the move.

This November, we’ll reopen our Free Shop to welcome once again the displaced community living on the island.

This is why we’re launching the Choose Your Warmth 2025 Campaign!

Your support will enable us to ensure everyone can keep warm this winter with dignity. We focus on providing clothing that allows people to keep warm and feel dignified, even in challenging conditions.

 If you’d like to donate your second-hand clothes, we especially need:

🧥 Jackets and coats

👟 Shoes and boots (all sizes)

👖Trousers and long sleeve jumpers for men

🧦 Socks (for men) and tights (for women and children)

🧣 Scarves, hats, and gloves

You can ship it directly to Alpha Centre, where we can sort and clean the items and have them ready for distribution at the free shop. We can build bridges, one box at a time!

Samos Volunteers - Alpha Centre
2 Dimitriou Petrou
83100, Samos
Greece

A few things to keep in mind when collecting and packing donations:

• the majority of our adult demographic is men (sizes S and M);

• for reasons of cultural and social sensitivity, we prefer clothes that cover the knees and shoulders of all genders;

• we also appreciate clothes that do not have large brands on them or have writing and imagery that may be triggering for people on the move (no references to the police, Coast Guard, violence, weaponry, sea, or imprisonment for either adult or children's clothes);

• for hygiene reasons, we do not accept secondhand undergarments.

Together, we can ensure that everyone on Samos stays warm, safe, and treated with dignity this winter!

View here our estimated winter needs list for the winter clothes distribution. 

Samos Volunteers' work relies heavily on private donations, so we are extremely grateful for your support.

We use Donorbox as a platform to collect our donations for our general operational costs. You can donate by clicking the support button!

Bank transfer

You can also donate to us directly by using the details below.

Samos Volunteers
IBAN: ES36 2100 8133 1601 0029 1008
BIC: CAIXESBBXXX

(You can claim tax reduction for certain EU countries - such as Germany - after donating. Contact communications@samosvolunteers.org for a receipt.)

Thank you for your trust in our work.