Montreal refugee groups overwhelmed by clothing donations, ask for other goods

Montreal refugee organizations say they've been overwhelmed by clothing donations for Syrian refugeesand are encouraging people to focus on other needed goods and services.

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The Canadian Alliance for Syrian Aid saidits Montreal warehouse is full to the brim with clothing, saidalliance'sFaisalAlazem.

More than 3,600 Syrian refugees are due to arrive in Quebec withinthe next month.

Thanks to the generosity ofMontrealers,Alazemsaid hisgroup now hasenough winter gear to outfit every last one of them, he said.

"Every few minutes the phone rings, and it's all kinds of requests," he said. "People who want to volunteer, provide their services, others that just want toask questions."

What donations are still needed

Alazemsaid other than clothes, much is still needed:

• School supplies.
• Books:children's books, language books,anything that will help them integrate.
• Toys.
• Toiletries.
• Non-perishable food.
• Affordable housing.
• Volunteers of all kinds (to show them around, Arabic speakers, health workers).
• Employers for apprenticeships and training.

Mountain of winter clothing

Alazemsayshe never expected the group'swarehouse space to fill up so quickly, and he's had to hirea co-ordinator to help answer the phone and direct people who want to pitch in.

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The group is now looking for help withthe mammoth task of sorting through the donations.

"The next phase for us is doing a triage, trying to organize all those clothes, opening up the bags," he said.

"That way we can present them in a dignified way to the refugees once they arrive to Quebec."

For more information about donations and volunteeringcontactinfo@casa-org.ca