Australia’s Greek Orthodox communities have joined forces to do their part for Europe’s refugee crisis, with an Australia-wide drive for basic household items and clothing.
An official request was sent out across the country by Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis, requesting that the community do their part to help those in need.
Daniel Bellis, a spokesperson from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Melbourne, told Neos Kosmos they were extremely pleased with the response.
“Speaking on behalf of Melbourne, it’s been overwhelming and generous,” he said. “The final collection date was 10 April and now we’re preparing to send four large container loads filled with clothing and food, and each container weighs about 10 tonnes.”
Father Dimitri Tsakas saw a similar response from Brisbane’s Greek Orthodox community, and told the ABC they had far exceeded expectations.
“I honestly thought we would struggle to fill a 20-foot container. But we have enough now for three or four full containers,” he said.
“People have been so thoughtful. We’ve had people bring dozens of boxes of food.
“One man wrote food items in Greek on the boxes and went to the trouble of working out how to write the same thing in Arabic.”
Greek businesses across Queensland have also jumped on board to lend a hand, delivering pallets of rice and pasta.
But the donations are not just for the Syrian refugees; while the migrant issue continues, Mr Bellis said the church recognises that people of Greece themselves are battling through their own crisis and that the donations will go to the poor and those in need of help, both young and old.
Once dispatched, the goods will be dispersed to three Athens-based not-for-profit associations; charities Hamogelo tou paidiou and Kivotos tou kosmou, as well as the Hatzikiriakio Orphanage.