Anna Howard, a personal travel consultant for Hays Travel, said she decided she needed to do something after becoming increasingly affected by television news reports on the crisis.
“I decided really that I couldn’t sit back and ignore it any more and I needed to do my part in making a difference to their lives,” she told TTG.
Images and videos of people making their way across Europe to escape war-torn Syria have dominated news bulletins throughout the summer.
Howard only started her campaign at the end of last week but already it has “gone a bit nuts”.
As well as taking donations of items including clothing, shoes, toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap, Howard is also raising money to transport the items to the Greek island of Kos.
“[We’re collecting] things that are going to give them just the tiniest bit of dignity, [so] that they can get up and put something clean on, or clean their teeth. Things that we take for granted.”
She has set a fundraising target of £3,000 and has already raised more than £600.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of people. £10 is a bottle of wine for most people but it just makes such a difference to refugees.”
Howard said that companies could get involved by holding dress down days and suggested airlines could donate blankets or old uniforms.
Howard is working with charity Kos Kindness, which will take delivery of the aid convoy.
Donations can be made at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/anna-howard
Anna Howard will hopefully serve as an inspiration to the rest of the travel industry.
