Heart for Lebanon launched just before Christmas of 2008 its “Give and You Will Be Given” program which takes place twice per month and which entails cloth distribution to 170 Iraqi Refugee families. The cold winter season has already started and the Iraqis have very little to keep themselves warm. Most of the refugees have left their home country due to persecution and death threats which forced them to depart without any prior planning and preparation. Many of them have come to Lebanon with only one bag of clothes for their children.
Heart for Lebanon through its regular home visits to the refugees noticed their strong need for clothes in general, and winter clothes in particular. Our team sent out the word to their families, churches, and friends who generously gave out a modest but good enough quantity to start distributing clothes to the Iraqis.
On Monday December 22nd, 2008, H4L opened its doors to welcome members of Iraqi refugee families who came to pick clothes that their families needed. We had prepared a room that displayed the different clothes that were donated, some were brand new and others were used clothes in good condition. The women enjoyed some time of fellowship with H4L staff and volunteers over coffee and snacks as they waited for their turn. A group of women carried back home to their families winter clothes from pants, blouses, jackets, shoes, to socks and underwear for their children, husbands, and themselves.