West Kilbride mum Gillian McBain has been moved by the international refugee crisis and has set up a drop-off point for humanitarian supplies at Fairlie Quay on Saturday from 10am-3pm...

Collection week is here, this Saturday we gather in all your donations at Fairlie Quay. We’ll be there from 10am until 3pm to take in the donations and we’ll have signs and people to direct you to the container location. Thanks again to Clyde Studios and Autograph signs for your help with these.

Keep your fingers crossed for good weather. We’ll have a gazebo there on the day but if it’s windy we may need an additional 4 volunteers holding a corner each to stop it blowing away. With the weather in mind, if you are able to sort and label the items before you bring them down, it means we’re able to save time and pack them straight into the boxes ready for the van. Please can you secure all shoes in pairs too.

I’m still in need of boxes for packing, Ikea or laundry bags and packing tape/tape guns. If you can offer any please bring them along on the day.

Because of issues with storage both here, and at Calaid’s own premises, it’s important that we only accept donations from the required list. The current list is as follows: Trainers or hiking shoes sizes 41-46 (UK 7 – 11) Tents/covers/tarpaulins, Jackets in sizes small and medium. Travelling bags (rucksacks holdalls etc). Jeans sizes 28-32 waist, Tracksuit trousers/joggers, underwear, wooly hats, socks, belts (small and medium), sleeping bags and blankets (please note we can’t accept sheets, duvets and pillow cases) Plastic bags, candles, torches, solar lamps, soap and shampoos, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pots and pans, tools and smaller woodworking items Items that are not required by Calaid: Women and children’s clothes and shoes, sheets, pillows and duvets/quilts, wellingtons, dress shoes and suits If you wish to donate items for women and children please get in touch with one of the various organisations collecting on their behalf. Try; KnitAid, Unicef, Ayrshire Support for Refugees, Glasgow Cares, Slings for Kos and Troon Emergency Aid for Refugees. There’s also a comprehensive list on Commonspace.Scot website on ways to help from Scotland.

Due to the continuing crisis and the movement of more and more refugees, Calaid are now delivering aid to southern Europe. The new camps popping up have a requirement for palettes for building temporary structures. I can’t accept these just now but if there’s any space in the van once we’ve sorted the collection I’ll put a shout out on the event’s Facebook page and collect any we have room for, before delivering the donations to London.

On Saturday, we’ll have the signs out at the entrance to Fairlie Quay Marina.

The address for Satnav and maps is Main Road, Fairlie, Ayrshire KA29 0AS. When you turn into the marina and drive over the bridge you’ll be turning left at the bottom of the hill and following the train lines in the road right round to almost the end of the blue sheds. There’s plenty room to turn and we’ll collect your boxes and bags and pack them into the container.

Hopefully the weather won’t be cruel and we’re basking in the late autumn sunshine. Famous last words… Once again, I’d like to thank Coastworks for the use of the container, and to everyone who has offered their time and support. I couldn’t have done it without you.