Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) began a drive to collect 10,000 sweaters for refugees from the Syrian civil war a short time back. Congregations were asked to collect sweaters and have them shipped to CLWR's headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba by October 31. The Canadian chain, Home Hardware, and a number of other business would be instrumental in shipping these sweaters to Winnipeg. The Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Huron (centred in London, ON) asked his parishes to join in this drive.
Fr. Robert Clifford of Trinity Anglican Church in Aylmer and I decided we'd get going on this. Two weeks ago, we announced this drive to our congregations. This morning (Monday, October 28) we gathered all the sweaters together, boxed them up, and took them to Home Hardware in Aylmer.
The totals? Between our two churches and a number of contributions from the community after a photo appeared in the
Aylmer Express...
441 sweaters, 44 coats/jackets, 3 blankets, 32 hats and toques, 4 scarves, and 25 pairs of gloves. This works out to about a sweater each for every member of St. John's.
I am astounded and grateful for this outpouring of generosity. Thank you to all who contributed and to all who assisted in the boxing and shipping! Thanks as well to Home Hardware for their assistance in Aylmer and nationwide.
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| This is just a PORTION of what was collected. |
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| Everything had to be un-bagged, refolded, counted, and re-boxed for shipment. |
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| We had wonderful helpers! |
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| Fr. Robert boxes up the first of his boxes, |
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| More... |
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Each box had to be inventoried with what and how many it contained, listed as
whatever number box of the total, and labelled for shipment to Winnipeg, |
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Although we asked for sweaters/sweatshirts only, blankets, jackets, scarves,
toques and a few caps, and gloves also appeared. Most were sent to CLWR,
although some lighter items (Spring and Summer clothes) went to a clothing ministry
for men in London and to the Bibles For Missions store, where the proceeds will
be used in education ministries among the First Nations. |
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| The caravan begins. |
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| Three vans and 12 boxes total... all for God's glory and the comfort of suffering people. |
If I could add, we accomplished all this, from arrival to drop at Home Hardware, within two hours! St. John's did a wonderful job; we collected almost one sweater for every member of our church.
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