Donations pour in at Bushey Synagogue for Afghan refugees in Hertsmere

Donations have poured in after it emerged around 200 Afghans, including children, were staying at two hotels in Hertsmere following the Taliban takeover.

At Bushey United Synagogue, so many supplies came in, it reached the stage where volunteers became overwhelmed.

The efforts at the synagogue were kickstarted by Rabbi Elchonon Feldman, who sent a message to worshippers on a private Facebook page on Thursday night.

Word soon spread across social media and by Sunday, the synagogue's car park was absolutely packed with thousands of donations.

Some of the donations handed in at Bushey United Synagogue

Rabbi Feldman said: "It has been a tremendous act of love and completely run by volunteers who all just wanted to help. They are not just Jewish. The message ended up going far and wide and everyone just wanted to make a difference."

Volunteers are now working through the donations to see where best to place the items for the Afghan families – and anything left over will go to other charities, the rabbi said.

Bushey Liberal Democrat councillor Laurence Brass, who contacted Rabbi Feldman to tell him that newly arrived Afghans needed items such as warm clothing toiletries, toys, and basic school supplies, said: "The community in Bushey responded in the most extraordinary fashion with tonnes and tonnes of items which the rabbi and I are looking forward to distributing this week to the refugees.

"I am delighted with the response."

The car park was rammed with supplies

County councillor and Conservative deputy leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Caroline Clapper, spent much of Sunday at the synagogue helping out and also putting callouts on social media.

Last night, she posted on social media: "After what has been an overwhelming (and exhausting) day, a massive thank you to everyone who contributed.

"Multiple charities and logistics firms are now stepping in to efficiently distribute the donations, not just to the Afghans being resettled, but also to more than 75 charities, who will in turn be sending on to other worthy recipients, both locally and even internationally.

"It’s been an emotional and inspirational day, where the communities across Hertsmere have all pulled together, in such a united way, showing such compassion for the less fortunate."

Cllr Caroline Clapper with a car full of supplies, having helped co-ordinate the response at Bushey United Synagogue

Local property developer Griggs Homes has also been co-ordinating an aid programme to collate and donate supplies to Afghan refugees that have arrived.

The company put out a plea on Friday and became inundated with donations which were later handed directly to families at the hotel.

Marketing and sales director Mark Johnson said: Mark Johnson of Griggs said: "We saw that hundreds of refugees were being emergency-housed within our local community. These poor people have escaped the Taliban and are scared and traumatised, they have arrived with only the clothes they have on their backs.

"We asked our community to help and they really stepped up to the plate. We can't thank local people enough for their help - we really are proud to be part of such a caring and compassionate community.

"I'd like to also thank Redbourne Health and Fitness and Farrells Fitness for all their help distributing the donations."

Griggs' office in Radlett is being used as a collection centre. The address is 223 Watling Street, Radlett, WD7 7AL and donations can be dropped off Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm.

Hertsmere Borough Council, offices pictured in Borehamwood, says it is "committed" to supporting Afghan families (Image: Newsquest)

On Friday, the leader of Hertsmere Borough Council said his council was "committed" to supporting families from Afghanistan.

He said: "We are in close and regular contact with the Home Office and the East of England Strategic Migration Unit around the support that is currently being offered to approximately 200 Afghan individuals temporarily accommodated in two hotels in our borough, with further voluntary support being provided by the Red Cross.

"These are people, and their families, who supported the British Army during its presence in Afghanistan predominantly working as interpreters.

"While we’re reviewing the government’s latest resettlement scheme, we will continue to provide as much support as we can, in conjunction with other councils, public sector organisations and charities in Hertfordshire."