November 2024 Monthly Report

In November 2024, we at Wave served 1449 hot meals, distributed 159 clothing items, and 542 hygiene items, ran 86 showers, charged 112 phones and powerbanks, and washed 31 laundry loads.

November Updates

It’s been a busy month for us again! Our community barbershop has been revived, thanks to a new barber kit and with the help of some talented community members – many people are sporting fresh, new cuts! Access to barbers is often limited for many, so it’s important for us to be able to offer this simple but important service at the centre.

Since we rely on donations from local markets for the fresh produce used in our meals, cooking requires both creativity and flexibility. Alongside popular dishes like deep-fried zucchini, biryani, and loubia, we’ve also been testing new recipes such as fasolaki lathera, hortorizo, bulgur patties and carrot hot dogs. This month, we also served Turkish meatballs – meat is now something we can now offer on a monthly basis, thanks to the generosity of our donors. What was once reserved for special occasions is now becoming a regular part of our menu and we’re delighted to be able to share it more often.

 

A Visit from Project Elpida

This month, we were delighted to welcome back our long-term supporters, Project Elpida, as part of their Northern Greece campaign. During this campaign, Elpida visits organisations working with people on the move and donates much-needed supplies to support them in their work. This is the third time we’ve been included and we’re deeply appreciative and thankful for their continued collaboration.

Together we shopped for clothing essentials such as boxers and joggers, which will be distributed at our centre and to people in immigration detention. They also joined us in preparing and distributing food. Without the support of organisations like Project Elpida, meeting the demand for clothing at our centre and people in detention would be much more challenging. A heartfelt thank you from all of us at Wave!

 

Winter Fundraiser 2024 Launch

November brought sharp drops in temperature, marking the start of winter. Many of the communities we work in solidarity with are street homeless, living in abandoned buildings or state-run camps that often fail to meet basic standards. People who have received positive asylum decisions or rejected applications are excluded from government accommodation, leaving them particularly vulnerable to homelessness – winter only intensifies these circumstances. People come to Wave not just for food and clothing but for shelter and protection from the cold.

To help meet these urgent needs, we launched our Winter 2024 Fundraising Campaign with the goal of raising €3,000 to purchase essential supplies for those facing the harsh months ahead. This winter we aim to distribute thermal tops and bottoms, scarves, hats, gloves and sleeping bags to help people endure the freezing temperatures.

We need your support to make this happen! Every contribution brings us closer to our target and helps us provide critical winter items to the communities we work with.