156,500 bars of soap sent to stranded refugees

A DUNDEE humanitarian charity has helped send 156,500 bars of soap to refugees stranded in Serbia.

Dundee The Caring City, along with its sister organisation in Glasgow, organised 22 pallets of individual bars of soap to be sent to people living in a refugee camp near Belgrade.

Several tonnes of clothing were also sent as part of the delivery.

Such has been the success of the charity’s recent efforts that its Dunsinane Avenue home has been cleared of donations.

Charity trustee Mike Strachan said: “We need donations to start flowing in again. It’s ironic that we need supplies because we’ve sent so much away, but it’s a pleasant irony.

“We hope to be able to help several thousand people. It’s all down to the people who donate. If it wasn’t for their generosity and care we would not exist.”

Between Dundee The Caring City, its sister organisation, Glasgow The Caring City, and production firm Soapworks, two million bars of soap have been donated to refugees in Serbia.

A total of 70,000 bars were sent from Dundee last year.

Ross Galbraith, of the Glasgow operation, believes the teamwork will help benefit up to 7,000 refugees. The charity’s international project director said: “We’ve got soap being produced on the west coast and clothes coming from the north-east of the country.

“It’s about people from all across Scotland coming together to create a movement which is not about cash, but is about surplus, people’s time and skills.

“For organisations like ourselves, we’re there for people who strike affinity with what they see on TV screens.

“They see individuals who need clothes, food and soap, and that’s where the Caring City network in Dundee and Glasgow comes into its own.”

A lorry is loaded with aid.