West Bay Rotary Meeting January 14, 2016
Posted by Sarah Ruef-Lindquist
on Jan 17, 2016
January 14, 2015
West Bay Rotary
West Bay Rotary
Alison McKellar
NuDay Syria
Alison McKellar has never been to Syria, has no connection or interest in the region until very recently.
She has been involved in lots of volunteer and humanitarian relief, she felt committed to work in Latin America. The Middle East seemed too complicated. She perpetrated stereotypes about the complicated nature of the scenario in the Middle East.
In 2011 some headlines caught her eye when the Syrian revolution started. They were protesting 40 years of the Assad dictatorship. Protestors took to the streets and hoped that it would be like the fall of Egypt. Protestors believed that they would be safe because it would be on social media. Started watching more closely – basic demands of free & open elections caught Alison’s attention.
Watched as this spiraled into the worst humanitarian effort of our generation. Could this be the Holocaust of our generation? She was concerned about what people going to say about us in history?
She didn’t want to look back and say that she didn’t think she could do anything – she didn’t want to be a bystander. There was only so much money that she could donate to other organizations. She began to get a reputation for having some level of expertise on this topic. She was invited to speak to the Amnesty International course in the High School – talked about how we should be doing more. They said we’d like to donate teddy bears to a refugee camp & she kind of thought it was a little silly. She search and found NuDay Syria – take gently used clothing, medical supplies, food – etc and send it in shipping containers. Did some research and found that they had sent a lot of useful materials.
She worked with the high school and completed a donation drive at the high school and they delivered it to Nashua.
Alison always believed that in kind contributions weren’t actually going anywhere.
Then she learned that it costs $6,000 to send 40 foot shipping container – on that container they can send $100,000-$200,000 in in kind donations. NuDay Syria has sent more than any other organization.
After spending a day in NH packing up a shipping container Allison became more engaged in the process. There is proof that it helps and it raises the bar at the acceptable level of participation.
She has taken 10 loads of donations to NH
Every time they need a larger truck
People in the community have been very generous
How do you know that Isis doesn’t get it – we can’t operate where there is regime presence or Isis. It limits where they can take things. There are lots of displaced people trying to get to Turkey – lots of camps in NW Syria.
What other types of things can you send?
Had the idea to collect boat shrink wrap. It is really useful stuff. It has be unrolled, cleaned – its hard to get folks to realize that we aren’t collecting scraps. Use for tenting or ground cover
Have started to use the shrink wrap in hospitals for infection prevention
We have gotten to a point that people are really interested in helping.
We send cards, make blankets – there is something for many people to do.
It’s not just the value of the item that we are sending – it’s the education around students reflecting on what these folks need.
Recycled items that are going to the transfer station – crutches, walkers, buckets, PVC pipes, wheel chairs. They also lend crutches out to the community here if needed.
Camden and Hope Fire Departments donated old turn out gear.
Looking for a warehouse space to use –
People want to be able to give the useful things that they don’t need to someone. Even if the materials aren’t eventually going to Syria but can be distributed to others in the community.
Pen Bay & Waldo County Hospitals
So wonderful – but there’s stuff that we can’t send to Syria. Wants to do better as a community to not waste so much useful stuff.
She realized that there was so much that she didn’t know. You get the opportunity to meet so many people.
Q & A
Where is the drop off?
79 Mechanic Street, Camden
What can people do in the community?
Phone calls –
Call companies for donations
Boxes, tape, sleeping bags
Who is distributing the contents in Syria?
Originally it was grass roots even in Syria – now it’s a lot more managed. With some paid staff.
NuDay Syria
Alison McKellar has never been to Syria, has no connection or interest in the region until very recently.
She has been involved in lots of volunteer and humanitarian relief, she felt committed to work in Latin America. The Middle East seemed too complicated. She perpetrated stereotypes about the complicated nature of the scenario in the Middle East.
In 2011 some headlines caught her eye when the Syrian revolution started. They were protesting 40 years of the Assad dictatorship. Protestors took to the streets and hoped that it would be like the fall of Egypt. Protestors believed that they would be safe because it would be on social media. Started watching more closely – basic demands of free & open elections caught Alison’s attention.
Watched as this spiraled into the worst humanitarian effort of our generation. Could this be the Holocaust of our generation? She was concerned about what people going to say about us in history?
She didn’t want to look back and say that she didn’t think she could do anything – she didn’t want to be a bystander. There was only so much money that she could donate to other organizations. She began to get a reputation for having some level of expertise on this topic. She was invited to speak to the Amnesty International course in the High School – talked about how we should be doing more. They said we’d like to donate teddy bears to a refugee camp & she kind of thought it was a little silly. She search and found NuDay Syria – take gently used clothing, medical supplies, food – etc and send it in shipping containers. Did some research and found that they had sent a lot of useful materials.
She worked with the high school and completed a donation drive at the high school and they delivered it to Nashua.
Alison always believed that in kind contributions weren’t actually going anywhere.
Then she learned that it costs $6,000 to send 40 foot shipping container – on that container they can send $100,000-$200,000 in in kind donations. NuDay Syria has sent more than any other organization.
After spending a day in NH packing up a shipping container Allison became more engaged in the process. There is proof that it helps and it raises the bar at the acceptable level of participation.
She has taken 10 loads of donations to NH
Every time they need a larger truck
People in the community have been very generous
How do you know that Isis doesn’t get it – we can’t operate where there is regime presence or Isis. It limits where they can take things. There are lots of displaced people trying to get to Turkey – lots of camps in NW Syria.
What other types of things can you send?
Had the idea to collect boat shrink wrap. It is really useful stuff. It has be unrolled, cleaned – its hard to get folks to realize that we aren’t collecting scraps. Use for tenting or ground cover
Have started to use the shrink wrap in hospitals for infection prevention
We have gotten to a point that people are really interested in helping.
We send cards, make blankets – there is something for many people to do.
It’s not just the value of the item that we are sending – it’s the education around students reflecting on what these folks need.
Recycled items that are going to the transfer station – crutches, walkers, buckets, PVC pipes, wheel chairs. They also lend crutches out to the community here if needed.
Camden and Hope Fire Departments donated old turn out gear.
Looking for a warehouse space to use –
People want to be able to give the useful things that they don’t need to someone. Even if the materials aren’t eventually going to Syria but can be distributed to others in the community.
Pen Bay & Waldo County Hospitals
So wonderful – but there’s stuff that we can’t send to Syria. Wants to do better as a community to not waste so much useful stuff.
She realized that there was so much that she didn’t know. You get the opportunity to meet so many people.
Q & A
Where is the drop off?
79 Mechanic Street, Camden
What can people do in the community?
Phone calls –
Call companies for donations
Boxes, tape, sleeping bags
Who is distributing the contents in Syria?
Originally it was grass roots even in Syria – now it’s a lot more managed. With some paid staff.
Paul Harris Award given to Alison McKellar.
She has proven that anyone can make a difference. Picking something in the community and putting your energy, heart & soul into it.
Buckets on the tables for fried chicken dinner – Deb Hitchings headed to Lasuto concerned about what is being called an epic drought. They’re subsistence farmers and they haven’t been able to plant crops. River and water tank is dry. Increasing the emergency food fund – they survive because of their livestock.
Taking 100 pairs of shoes on this trip for orphans.
Nat – To support Interact trip to Guatemala
Rockport roofline by T. Allen Lawson - $10 for 1 ticket. $50 for 6
Drawing tonight. Etienne’s necklace.
Duck Derby
Next week Club Assembly
She has proven that anyone can make a difference. Picking something in the community and putting your energy, heart & soul into it.
Buckets on the tables for fried chicken dinner – Deb Hitchings headed to Lasuto concerned about what is being called an epic drought. They’re subsistence farmers and they haven’t been able to plant crops. River and water tank is dry. Increasing the emergency food fund – they survive because of their livestock.
Taking 100 pairs of shoes on this trip for orphans.
Nat – To support Interact trip to Guatemala
Rockport roofline by T. Allen Lawson - $10 for 1 ticket. $50 for 6
Drawing tonight. Etienne’s necklace.
Duck Derby
Next week Club Assembly