A West Kilbride mother who has been moved by the international crisis at Calais is setting up a drop-off point for humanitarian supplies at Fairlie Quay next month.

Its purpose is to help provide essential supplies to those in need who have been caught up in the ongoing situation near the ferry port.

Gillian McBain, pictured, told the ‘News’ she felt compelled to act after being horrified at the heart-breaking images being broadcast on the television news and in newspapers.

She is urging locals to support her humanitarian project.

A drop-off container will be available to donate supplies at Fairlie Quay from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 10 October, to support the plight of refugees travelling from war-torn and unstable countries, who are in desperate need.

The idea was formed when Gillian became aware of the work that the charity CalAid were carrying out in response to the crisis at Calais. She hopes her project will be Ayrshire wide, and people from all over the district will come to Fairlie on 10 October.

Gillian said: “As a parent, when I saw a picture of a woman trying to hold her baby up while swimming, it madde me realise how desperate these people are to escape to a better way of life.

“When I had a baby, the biggest stress was waiting for the mid-wife at 3pm, and this woman was floating with all her clothes on, trying to pacify her baby and keep them both afloat. These are heart-breaking scenes.

Gillian believes last week’s dramatic images of a young boy dead in the sand in Greece have had a breakthrough effect in changing people’s perception to the crisis.

The mother-of-three said: “These images have triggered an outburst on Facebook, twitter, and international media. I think in the past we have been anaesthetised to what we see on the news, but these pictures have really chipped into that. I hope it has made people realise the scale of this crisis.

Gillian, 40, works in photography and public relations, and has already enlisted the help of Coastworks at Fairlie Quay who have provided a container for the donations.

She said: “It’s quite specific and we need to reject items not on their list as they don’t have space for non-essentials. I’ll be booking a day to drop it in London at the CalAid storage depot. I am looking for people to help sort, organise and pack the container on drop-off day and co-pilots for road trip. If anyone wants to offer up a van/driver or donation for van hire that would be great.” Since putting the idea on her personal Facebook page, Gillian has received strong support, including offers of cash to hire vans, and the site at Fairlie Quay, with container, to host the event.

She said there is high demand at Calais for men’s clothes such as jackets, walking boots, and basic essentials such as shampoo and toothpaste.

Gillian says that at present it is a one-off event, but depending on how much support she receives, it is possible that there could be further similar events in the local area as the winter arrives.

For more details, go to www.facebook.com/events/124986467852484/ You can read Gillian's new column in this week's Largs and Millport Weekly News.