A GROUP of Limerick people is looking for wool and other knitting and sewing materials for women in direct provision who want to make clothes for themselves and their children.
It’s just one of dozens of projects that Limerick Assists has undertaken since it was established in 2016.
“What started it all was the image of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy whose body was washed up on a beach in Turkey. Everyone was asking ‘what can we do?” Nadine Buttery, from Ahane, one of the group’s founders, told the Limerick Post.
She decided to set up a Facebook page to ask people to contribute clothes, tents, sleeping bags and money to help the refugees in the camp at Calais. She then became aware that there was a group in Cork organising a convoy to the French camp.
“I contacted them and with the help of Limerick City Council, found a depot. Overnight I had 2,000 people on the page and selected ten of them to be the committee.
“In two weeks, we had 4,000 people on the page. We had put together €10,000 and a whole shipment of tents, clothes and medicines to send,” said Nadine.
“After that, I realised we have 4,000 doers on this page. We have to harness that positivity,” she explained.
The group went on to turn over the Limerick Assists page to “any issue where we could help.
“Charities use us a lot but it could be any issue, from a fundraiser to a missing teddy bear. Our only aim is to help people who need help.
“If I put a notice up that I need a wardrobe and a table for a family in need, I’ll have it inside ten minutes. We join the dots so people can help each other”.
Another large-scale project Assists has been involved with was the provision of snowsuits for babies in refugee centres across the world.
“And we still support the Calais project. If people want to learn more about us or maybe there’s something they can help with, have a look at the Limerick Assists Facebook Page,” she said.
