Airline food blogger Nikos Loukas of Inflight Feed is calling on airlines, inflight caterers and their suppliers to donate blankets, pillows, toiletries kits, inflight kids packs, food and water to those in need in Greece and France. He then wants to charter a plane from London to Kos to deliver it all, along with volunteers.
Loukas is hoping to charter a plane on the 27th September to deliver donations along with 130 volunteers to assist on the ground. The plan? To provide meals and comfort to those struggling in Greece. So far airports and airline caterers across the UK and Europe have quickly offered Loukas free storage space to accept delivery of donations. Whilst donations such as pre packed meals, children’s fun packs and coffee cups have started to trickle in since he started the campaign on the weekend, however he still requires further donations from the airline industry.
The donations would be distributed evenly between a number of charities on the ground working in Calais and Kos including: Aid For Refugees in Kos and Lesbos, Kos Solidarity, Kos Kindness and Calais People to People Solidarity UK. These groups have been set up for people to communicate with one another to arrange donations and collection points of things that are required there.
But there’s just one slight problem, the cost of chartering an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 for the day comes at a cost of around £80,000. “I’m not raising any money for this but rather I hope that an airline or aircraft charter company will donate an aircraft for us to use on the 27th. Whilst it doesn’t come cheap, I am hoping that someone will assist if possible.”
Loukas has already been contacted by 2 airlines (who wish to remain anonymous) that are evaluating the possibility of offering their aircraft, however nothing is confirmed yet.
He is offering 130 free seats to the general public if the aircraft charter comes to fruition. The catch? Volunteers who come along on the flight to Kos are expected to assist with handing out donations and comforting people on the ground. For those interested in volunteering for the flights, or to donate food and water supplies please contact Nikos via a special page that has been set up at Inflight Feed. http://www.inflightfeed.com/help-the-refugees
A320 at takeoff (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It probably won’t surprise any of my readers that I want to go, I need to help. I can’t just do nothing anymore, wherever these people are running from I want to help them up if they fall and offer them my hand as they clamber off of the boats. I think this is a brilliant idea, and I think the only way this is going to get off the ground is if the word spreads about this. I costs a fortune to keep posting things to Kos, but “things” without volunteers isn’t as much help.
Do you know someone who works for an airline? Maybe someone with a private plane? I don’t but you never know who might read this, anyone mates with John Travolta? No, darn it. Let’s face it, any airline that did do this would get massive publicity and it could be amazing for them. It’s potentially a win win situation – we get to help people and they get their brand in thousands of news reports, videos or tweets.
Jules,
Have you tried contacting your local small airport and ask to put up a poster and request their help.
That’s such a good idea and I hope a major airline gets involved. Sad times 🙁
Claire
x
I’d love to do something like this to help, but I couldn’t leave my kids with them being so young still. I wish you all the best in your venture. Have you tried putting out a tweet and getting people to RT it if you tag some airlines?
This sounds like a great idea. Good luck!
I thought at frst s going to be a holiday post. How wrong I was. I dont think anyone will go for holiday, I am sure it all be volunteers who wont stay there partying… great idea!
I love this idea, my hubby works for an airline and thinks it’s got to be someone VERY high up to make that decision of donating an aircraft for the day as flights would need to be cancelled for them to do this.
I would love to help out though it’s such a great idea. Good luck!
Can you show your husband this post pretty please?
What an absolutely amazing idea, and I hope an airline steps up to provide the essential flight needed. x
Good luck with your adventure. I went to Kos many years ago and it is a beautiful island. Definately not big enough for extra thousands of people. Such a shame.
What a fantastic idea! Good luck! I have shared x
What a wonderful idea, I know Kos well as I used to work there. I will definitely send out a tweet and hope this comes to fruition.
Great idea, good for him for wanting to do something on such a large scale x
I hope and wish you luck with your venture hun x
I would definitely try some of the smaller airlines or local airports. Best of luck with your venture.
Wow what an amazing thing for them to be doing – I really hope they manage to charter an aircraft – I will head over now to see if I can do anything to help 🙂 x
This is actually a win win situation and hope someone who can help reads this ! Great job sharing x
This is such an amazing and generous thing to for people who truely need it. I really hope an airline steps up and helps out.
This is amazing and I’m so glad people are doing all they can to help. If I could get off work I would go! x
I hope it all works out and people get the help they so desperately need
I hope that you get some good news from one of the airlines soon. It’s such a lovely thing to do during these sad times.
I know what you mean about needing to do something. I really hope that you are able to find a way to get there to help. I wish I knew someone who could help x
Thanks for all your wonderful comments folks! I had 2 airlines seriously considering it and both pulled the plug…. A few more options though. Waiting patiently. Cheers.
What a FANTASTIC idea I so wish I had a valid passport!!
What an amazing idea, I really do hope that one of the big airlines step forward and give the help required x
British Airways is sending loads of sleeping bags in, still no plane but not given up.
brilliant idea! have you thought about maybe crowd funding (kickstarter etc)?
Sounds like such a great idea. I hope an airline steps up.
This is a great idea. If I had a private plane or good connections with someone who works for an airline, I’d be more than happy to help out.
I know how you feel, I just want to do something to help too. Best of luck with this, I hope you get somewhere.
This is such a beautiful and thoughtful idea, I’ve often wondered if my plane blanket/pillow could be put to good use after I was done with it