Our Heroes Highlights of Volunteer Efforts from Blanket & Coat Drive '15

Over the past two years, Embrace Relief was able to send blankets and winter clothes amounting to four and six containers respectively, together with its partner organizations to aid displaced Syrians in Turkey. As the unfortunate situation in the region doesn't seem to improve soon, Embrace Relief decided to repeat its initiative again this year, with a goal of ten containers of goods in mind.
But the response of our volunteers has far exceeded our expectations this year, and sixteen containers of blankets, winter coats, and various winter clothing have been collected in ‘Help Syrian Refugees 2015′ campaign. Approximately 40,000 blankets, 33,000 coats and 7,500 pieces of various clothing have been contributed.

We are grateful for all our dedicated volunteers across the country. They are the ones who've made this result possible by organizing their own campaigns in their community; in their schools, workplaces and places of worship. As the Embrace Relief Team, we wholeheartedly thank all our heroes for their efforts!

Here are some of them:

Rocktown Rallies is a local grassroots organization based in Harrisonburg, VA. In their own words, they were founded on September 2, 2015 “when the image of Aylan Kurdi made the Syrian refugee crisis too much for their hearts to bear.”

They were one of the first respondents to our call and one of our most dedicated campaigners. The team of Rocktown Rallies managed to mobilize more than ten local businesses, and eventually brought all their collections to our sponsor Paxton Van Lines’ warehouse in VA themselves.

AMACA at the USPTO

American Muslim & Arabic Cultural Association at the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) ran a campaign of one of a kind in their workplace for this year's blanket & coat drive.
Not only did they collect more than 2,000 items, but they've also purchased more than 500 new children's winter coats, 200 new blankets and hundreds of new thermal socks for Syrian refugees!
There are more than five hundred new children's coats in these boxes for Syrian children, purchased and donated by the members of AMACA at the USPTO.

BROADWAY COMMUNITY

Members of the Broadway Community have participated in this year’s campaign by organizing their own drive in six famous theaters of Broadway. Set workers, designers, hairdressers have taken time out of their busy schedule within the tight calendar of Broadway shows to show their support.

Zuhra Korkutovic

A past refugee herself, Zuhra Korkutovic from Pennsylvania organized her local community and designated drop-off points in her neighborhood. What started as a small contribution effort quickly gained momentum and she collected a truckload (literally!) of items to the benefit of Syrian refugees, and even delivered them herself to our warehouse in NJ with her father and brother.

.. and her efforts got featured on Fox News.

BARAGWANATH BLESSINGS INC.

Our sister non-profit in California, Baragwanath Blessings has the mission of helping babies and children in need around the world. Founded by amazing Colette Ankenman, a student at the University of Utah, BB Inc. has been sending hand-knit baby hats, blankets and other essential children items to more than 25 countries in the world for years, and has collaborated with Embrace Relief this year to participate in the Help Syrian Refugees campaign. BB Inc has donated hundreds of blankets and hats for Syrian children!
REPUBLICAN MUSLIM COALITION
Members of the Republican Muslim Coalition in Washington, DC have organized a big event and collected blankets and winter coats to be delivered to displaced Syrians in Turkey.

OAKTON VIRGINIA STAKE LDS

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

One of the most active campaigners of the drive, members and the volunteers of Oakton Virginia Stake LDS have collected more than 4,000 boxes of items for the campaign this year!

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE CAMPAIGNERS

Students from University of Delaware have organized their own campaign on campus to show their caring and support.

STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTry

Students from elementary to high school levels all across the US have taken part in this year's campaign under the guidance of their teachers and school executives.
Grade 5 Students from Pasadena Waldorf School in California
Middleburg Community Charter School's (VA) PTO Treasurer Mark Pomeroy delivering his school's collections
2nd grade Japanese Language Immersion Students from Fox Mill Elementary in Virginia contributing to the effort
Students from Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School in NY
The efforts of our volunteers are not limited to what is presented here; many more have participated in the campaign this year to make a difference for the Syrian refugees. We thank each and every one of our volunteers for the great result we've accomplished together!

Blanket & Coat Drive '15

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Embrace Relief
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