THE result was 10,000 toys. That meant seven van-loads of
much-needed delight to go to the charity Hand in Hand for Syria,
for the children in the refugee camps. They were collected in
Leicestershire by all the faith groups, including St Philip's, in
Leicester, which was the focal point for the
drop-in. Many other Anglican churches, including Leicester
Cathedral, contributed, as did Roman Catholic and Baptist churches,
and Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Leicester College, the Progressive
Jewish Congregation, and others.
The initiative had come from Sharen Ravat (centre), who
describes herself as "a Leicestershire resident . . . deeply
affected by the plight of children in Syria". Seeing the result,
she said: "What was particularly heart-warming was that so many of
Leicestershire's different faith communities came together.
Collectively, they demonstrated their shared values of compassion
and love for children they will never know."
Suleman Nagdi, of the Federation of Muslim Organisations, paid
tribute to her for "single-handedly arranging this appeal, which
has united so many of the faith and non-faith communities in a
common cause for humanity".
Supplies for Syria. I have been asked by Gill Newman,
who was collecting supplies and donations to fill an ambulance to
send to women and children in Syria (Real Life, 2 July), to say
that Hand in Hand for Syria has had to cancel the convoy by road
because of logistical problems. She has therefore decided to use
the donations she has already received to buy items for women and
children to be shipped to Syria by the charity. For information
visit the website www.handinhandforsyria.org.uk.