Donations for Refugees in Germany

I have a knot in the pit of my stomach when I think about the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing their homes and arriving in this place I call home.  Those refugees have left everything behind in hopes of coming to Germany to find safety, peace and a new start at a life where they do not have to live in terror.

<img="" data-skip-lazy data-skip-lazy class="wp-image-17542 size-full" src="https://javacupcake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1297745595299_ORIGINAL.jpg" alt="1297745595299_ORIGINAL" height="404" align="aligncenter"> Photo from The Barrie Examiner
="Being so close to where these people are fleeing to... I feel a sense of obligation, of desire, of need to help them.   I haven't felt this called to do something of this magnitude, of this much importance ever before... but now, I feel as though I must.

The images are haunting me.  The children.  The families.  The women.  The men.  I can not imagine what it feels like to literally run from the place you have called home your entire life in fear for your safety.  I can not image what these people are going through, how scared they are and how terrifying it must feel to be in a strange new land.

My local military post hasn't seemed to organize any kind of help (besides through the Red Cross) so I have decided to ask you, my readers, my family, my friends  for help.  Please, go through your closets and kitchen cabinets, go the grocery store and gather the much-needed items the refugees are in need of.  I will be collecting donations for these displaced families and personally delivering them to a local organization who can get them directly to those in need.

I figured, since I am actually in Germany and so close to those in need and many of you are so far away, that I could be the go-between for those who want to help but don't know how to get that help to those who actually need it.

Most Needed Items:

• Hygiene kits with toilet paper, soap, razors, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sun cream, face cream, bandages and other essentials
• Diapers & wipes
• Blankets and sleeping bags
• Toys and games for children
• School supplies, paper, pens, etc

UPDATE:  CLOTHING ITEMS ARE NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME!  The German Red Cross is saying they need diapers, wipes and toiletries the most!  However, if you want to send warm, winter clothing I plan to store it at my home until winter and deliver it to the Red Cross then.  This crisis isn't going to be over after one donation.  I plan to keep brining things to the Red Cross as long as I'm sent it and as long as I live in Germany.

Send donations to:
Betsy Eves
CMR 415 Box 6018
APO AE 09114

This is my military address and items can be shipped via flat rate boxes with a customs form for a fairly inexpensive price.  Please be aware of the restricted items you can not ship via USPS.  I plan to donate everything I collect in the end of October so you have 4-6 weeks to get items in the mail to me.

If you're anything like me... you're feeling the calling to help.  Let this be the way you can.

Thank you!