As some politicians make disparaging remarks about migrants arriving in Western Europe, we are reminded that welcoming the Stranger is a fundamental tenet of our faith. 

Thousands of our fellow human beings are fleeing their homelands because of war, famine and oppression.  Many of them make it as far as Northern France and we are familiar with the news coverage of the jungle in Calais.

Many members of our sister movement in the ACO France (Action Catholique Ouvrière) are welcoming the stranger into their neighbourhoods of Calais and Dunkirk.  Eve Marie Dubiez who is a close friend of the MCW has sent us regular information about the treatment of refugees in Northern France.  There is some evidence of human traffickers, some of who come from Britain who control the camps and charge refugees rent for shelter there. She says its type of “mafia” who impose the law of the jungle as European Governments are doing little. She wrote to us a few days ago to say that things are very tense in both camps due to the action of the Police and the lack of facilities for eating and showering.     

She also said that there are now more volunteers there than there is accommodation for them to stay.  However she informed us of ‘Aid Box Convey’ based in Bristol that now appears to be coordinating aid and voluteers to support refugees in the North of France.  Their web site can be found at:  www.aidboxconvoy.co.uk its current focus is on supplying the new camp in Dunkirk with welcome boxes. We've also recently set up a list on Amazon to ease the process of contributing to the boxes.  The site says:

“Please note that owing to a fantastic response to the recent call for volunteers, we are now fully booked for the foreseeable, but will be in touch with those who have registered interest when new dates become available. 

We do try to respond to every email, but as we are run purely by

volunteers it may take time. Most queries are answered on our website, but please note the following in particular:"

There is also a Facebook Page:

<https://www.facebook.com/Aid-Box-Convoy-Bristol-to-Refugees-in-Europe-1497749723870532/?fref=ts>

*Collecting items to donate* please refer to our website

<http://www.aidboxconvoy.co.uk> for up to date information on what we are

able to take and distribute and what you should do with any items that fall

outside our remit, such as clothing. 

*Building help and supplies* - please contact our build team at

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please visit Aid Box Convoy web site and offer support in anyway that your means allow.