Launching the Collective Aid 2024 'Winter Warmth' Fundraiser
Winter is brutal without shelter.
Today, we’re launching our winter appeal fundraiser to ensure that we can keep our projects running and deliver vital support to those on the move during the coldest months of the year.
Winter in the Balkans is unforgiving. Temperatures drop fast, and the cold becomes harsh, making warm clothes and basic supplies a lifeline. In Subotica, on the Serbian border, countless people are forced to sleep outside the camp, exposed to the cold weather without proper shelter or protection. They face this harsh reality simply because they are unable to register in the official camps.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, people are staying temporarily in one of two transit centres on the outskirts of Sarajevo. Transit centres are packed with displaced individuals, but many of these centres lack adequate heating. Despite having a roof over their heads, the bitter winter air still seeps in. As these people continue their northward journey, they will face even harsher weather, without warm clothes to shield them from the cold.
On the island of Lesvos, the conditions are no better. There, temperatures regularly drop below freezing, and the continuous rain and snow create muddy, waterlogged camps along the shorelines. These camps, exposed to the elements, offer little protection from the brutal winter.
The people that are exposed to these conditions are not there out of choice. They are forced out of their homes by violence, conflict and persecution, and take dangerous journeys intensified by harsh weather, state authorities and poor access to necessities.
At Collective Aid, we see this hardship first-hand. With the arrival of winter, the urgency to provide warmth and essential services has never been greater. That is why we are launching our winter appeal fundraiser. Through your generosity, we can keep our projects running and deliver vital support to those on the move during the coldest months of the year. Your support will help people be warmer, safer, and more protected as they endure these incredibly difficult conditions.
Our projects in Subotica, Sarajevo and Lesvos are specifically tailored to local needs, and with this winter fundraiser, you can see exactly what your donation will support. We are offering both subscriptions and packages, so that however much you would like to donate, you can see how your contribution will help to sustain our services.
Three ways you can make a difference this winter:
Donate a Winter Warmth package
You can donate one of our “Winter Warmth” packages, designed to provide essential winter clothing to displaced individuals. Each package includes warm items such as jackets, blankets, socks and gloves to help people stay protected from the harsh winter cold, along with an essential hygiene kit. The packages can be purchased to support either an individual or a family:
15 € covers the cost of a regular package, designed for an individual
50€ purchases a family "Winter Warmth" package, which provides items for a man, a woman and two children
You can also purchase an individual hygiene kit for €5.
Single or Monthly Donations
You can choose an amount for donation, or set up a recurring amount to donate every month.
Become an Organiser
We'd love you to join us and organise your own campaign on behalf of Collective Aid this winter. You can sign up with information about your campaign goal and fundraising ideas using the link above.
Your donation is more than just providing clothes.
It's offering dignity, warmth, and hope to people who are enduring incredibly tough conditions. For refugees and displaced individuals, winter is not only cold but life-threatening, especially when shelter and essential needs are scarce. By donating, you are directly helping people to survive the harsh winter months, protecting them from illness and ensuring they can face each day with greater safety and comfort. Your support makes a vital difference in keeping people warm, safe, and resilient during their most vulnerable moments.
Please consider making a donation today and sharing this campaign with your network.