Letters from Samos — Day 4

Today was hard as I woke with a rather nasty hangover despite only having a few beers. I set about working off the shakes by moving a mountain of summer supplies from the city warehouse to the mountain warehouse. I gathered together a crew of seven or so people and the work was hugely satisfying. People here love being asked to help if you have a genuine mission.

We took an afternoon break then were at it again but this time we arrived at the warehouse in the pitch black and the gate was padlocked. I sent messages to the key holder to help but I needn’t have bothered. Such is the attitude of the team that before I had hung up the phone Sohaib had leapt over the fence and demanded we throw the van load of bags and boxes over the gate. We set about this new challenge with energy!

Later at the port there was a shoe distribution and the refugees queued up to receive them. I was helping with the crowd control and saw some shoes that I had picked, sized and bagged a few days ago find a very happy new home. It made me feel great. Often the boring work in the warehouse seems to be without direct impact but it is these moments where you see how all these small jobs link together to make a difference.

Every time a ferry leaves the volunteers mobilise to see them off safely. It is a powerful and beautiful moment when many of the people you have seen and spoken to over the previous few days take the next step on their journey. They come to thank you with handshakes and hugs. I feel very guilty and a bit of a fraud at this moment, proud and happy with myself and yet knowing there is so much more I could be doing to help.

There have been no refugees arriving for the last day or so and things are beginning to quieten down. It will give the volunteers a chance get set up, prepared and ready for the next wave whenever that sad inevitability happens…

Previous day: https:[email protected]/letters-from-samos-day-3-19be328aabc7#.o4ljtcjax

Next day: https:[email protected]/letters-from-samos-day-5-cbe334547839#.yaq7rw9qo

This piece is part of a series of letters one impossible user sent daily to his wife while he was volunteering on Samos, Greece. He has shared them with us as an insight into what is happening there and how much help is needed.
We’ll be posting one letter each day for the next 7 days. Follow us.