Rome - Razors, tissues, tooth brushes, pens and phone cards – they may not be top of everybody’s Christmas list, but for Rome’s refugees it’s these basic necessities that make life that much easier. They’re just some of the items that the Joel Nafuma Refugee Centre is asking the public to donate part of its annual Christmas Gift Bag Appeal.

  The Centre is calling on individuals, businesses, church communities, families, organizations, and schools to make up gift bags for refugees in Rome and to bring them to the Centre in Via Napoli so they can be distributed to guests at their Christmas Lunch on December 23.

  As record numbers of refugees continue to pour into Italy, escaping conflict and persecution in their own countries, there has never been a greater need for support, says JNRC Volunteer Co-ordinator Daniela Morales. “Many of the people we see at the Centre arrive in Rome with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. Some are sleeping rough on the streets. A warm scarf, gloves, even a bar of soap – they can make a big difference.

   “Our gift appeal is about providing some basic necessities - and a few small treats - for people in need. It doesn’t cost a lot of money, it is fun to do, and people can start straight away,” she says. The idea is to fill a few simple paper grocery bags with items selected from the Gift List – at least one from each of the following categories:

- Clothing: men’s gloves, hats, scarves, socks and underwear (The majority of the JNRC beneficiaries are men).  

- Hygiene: combs, lip salve, razors, small bars of soap, tissues, travel size bottles of shampoo, toothbrushes, travel size toothpaste.

- Miscellaneous : Bus/metro tickets, chewing gum, candy or chocolate bars, small notebooks

  All items should be new, and while people should feel free to be creative, Daniela says they should avoid choosing expensive items. “A big number of small items can help many more people than a few large costly ones.”

  As in the past, all gifts will be re-organized into special gift bags to make them more equal so it is very import_ant that people leave them open. Daniela says messages of encouragement and solidarity from donors are also very welcome. Extra bags and gifts will be distributed to JNRC guests from the supply room in the months to come.

  The deadline for gift bags is Tuesday 15 December. They can be left at the JNRC at St. Paul’s within the Walls Episcopal Church, Via Napoli 58, on weekdays between 10 am and 15.30 pm and on Sundays in the rear of church before the 10:30 am service. They can also be brought to the centre on Saturday, 12 December during the Holiday Market, from 10:00 to 17:00.   To make special arrangements for drop-off, please contact: jnrc@stpaulsrome.it