Blanket Drive for Syrian Refugees a Great Success

Date posted: December 5, 2014

25,000 Blankets Collected and $100,000 in Donations Raised

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), the American Turkish Friendship Association (AFTA) and Embrace Relief are pleased to report the 2014 blanket drive to assist Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Turkey has been a great success.

Paxton Companies estimates 25,000 blankets have been donated (a more than 38% increase in the number of blankets over last year) and Embrace Relief reports $100,000 in funds have been donated to this cause. Over the past two years, more than 40,000 blankets have been collected and $115,000 in funds has been donated. Donations raised for this program will help purchase blankets and supplies in Turkey for the refugees.

As of December 4, 34,340 pounds or 17 tons of blankets have been collected and boxed. Last year, 12 tons of blankets were collected and sent to refugees.

“Northern Virginia residents and businesses have once again risen to the challenge to help us provide humanitarian relief to those folks who have fled their homes due to the Civil War in Syria and the violence related to ISIL in the region,” said NVRC Executive Director Mark Gibb. “We are grateful for everyone’s support and that of our friends at Paxton and Maersk who are donating their services to truck and ship the blankets.”

This year there were more than 30 collection sites throughout Northern Virginia from Stafford County to Arlington. A dedicated website was established www.helpsyrianrefugees.us to help publicize the blanket drive. In a 45-day period, the website had more than 8,000 views.

The blankets will be trucked down to Norfolk shortly for loading on a Maersk freighter which will depart Norfolk for the port city of Mersen, Turkey where the blankets will be off loaded and distributed to refugees in camps and in the community.

This year’s blanket drive campaign was co-chaired by Fairfax BOS Chairman Sharon Bulova, Arlington BOS Chairman Jay Fisette, Prince William BOS Chairman Corey Stewart, Loudoun BOS Chairman ScottYork and Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille.