A Stirling charity organisation has launched a book collection appeal to be sent to Palestine for those affected by the ongoing conflict there.
Stirling Aid has used the coronavirus pandemic to help local communities by supplying PPE to key workers, carers, care homes, the voluntary sector and supplied food to struggling families across the ‘Central Belt’.
Since the beginning of the second lockdown, with the cold winter approaching, the charity focused on helping the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees by providing them with food, clothing and essential toiletry items.
This is an ongoing project and one which the community has really given generously to.
Earlier this month, the group came across a message appealing for books for Gaza.
Samir Mansour’s bookshop, the biggest in Gaza, was destroyed in a recent bombing of the area and Stirling Aid decided to join the UK-wide venture and are appealing for books of any kind, any genre and for all ages to be sent to there.
So far the charity says that the campaign has been very well received with the first batch of book donations already rolling in.
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Stirling Aid volunteer, Azra Bhatti, has been spear-heading the book drive and she says that donations are now being taken at the Post Office in Dunblane. Donations can also be collected across the Forth Valley and any organisation which has a larger amount of books, 1000 or more, can also be collected.
Azra said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been donating and supporting Stirling Aid projects since we started, and a big shout out to our fabulous volunteers.
“Your kindness and generosity has been invaluable to all the people whose lives you’ve made a difference to.”
Samir Mansour ran a library and bookstores in Gaza which housed one of the largest collections of English literature in Gaza.
The store was hit in the recent attacks on Gaza and tens of thousands of books were destroyed.
An online fundraiser to re-build the library and store has been launched and to date has raised more than £132,000.
To donate contact Stirling Aid on Facebook or Instagram or call Zahir Haider on 07846 925969 or Azra Bhatti on 07793945314.
