THIS month’s clothing collection in Redditch for refugees fleeing civil war and conflict in their own countries will have an added feature – RefuJuice.
RefuJuice is freshly pressed apple juice made from fruit that otherwise would have been left to rot in the fields or on the trees.
The clothing collection is this Saturday, December 7 at The Bridge Church (St Lukes) on Evesham Road in Headless Cross, from 2pm to 4pm.
And as winter blows in temperatures are plummeting making any donations of warm clothes, sturdy shoes, sleeping bags, dignity packs and and rucksacks welcome.
“It’s the season of goodwill and the clothing collection is the perfect excuse to clear out your wardrobes ready for Christmas,” said organiser Sue Yeng.
And while donors are there they can also pick up bottles of RefuJuice harvested by Syrian refugees and volunteers from the group Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcomes Refugees.
Local refugee and journalist Maz Salmou said: “Prior to the conflict, Syria was an abundant place for food and farming.
“Agriculture was a cornerstone of the Syrian economy, but the war had a negative impact on all sectors.
“In Syria people depend on local production to a large extent.
“We were shocked when we saw literally tons of apples go to waste or rotting on the trees in UK farms.”
In all more than two tonnes of apples were collected together resulting in over 1,000 litres of ‘RefuJuice’.
People can buy their Refujuice for Christmas at the Ecumenical Centre.