Utah campaign provides sleeping bags, boots for Syrian refugee children

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Beau Simon, 6, displays the message he wrote for the Syrian orphans. Pictures and letters draw by children will be sent over and hung in the Kara Tepe refugee camp where many children who have been orphaned are living. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Pictures and letters draw by children will be sent over and hung in the Kara Tepe refugee camp where many children who have been orphaned are living. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
l-r Volunteers Karen Otto and Amber Baudino pack blankets into vacuum sealable bags for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Volunteers Tiffany Wharton and her children Violetta, left, 11, Rocco, 8, Salvatore, 5, pack blankets into a vacuum sealable bag at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman, with son Jack, 9, above, raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Volunteers pack boots, blankets, winter clothing and other donations at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
l-r Volunteers Azra Basic and Jonah Fearnley zip tie pairs of boots together for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Volunteers pack boots, blankets, winter clothing and other donations at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Volunteers Tiffany Wharton and her children l-r Violetta, 11, Rocco, 8, Salvatore, 5, pack blankets into a vacuum sealable bag at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries.

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Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Beau Simon, 6, displays the message he wrote for the Syrian orphans. Pictures and letters draw by children will be sent over and hung in the Kara Tepe refugee camp where many children who have been orphaned are living. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Pictures and letters draw by children will be sent over and hung in the Kara Tepe refugee camp where many children who have been orphaned are living. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Pictures and letters draw by children will be sent over and hung in the Kara Tepe refugee camp where many children who have been orphaned are living. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Volunteers Karen Otto and Amber Baudino pack blankets into vacuum sealable bags for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Pictures and letters draw by children will be sent over and hung in the Kara Tepe refugee camp where many children who have been orphaned are living. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Volunteers Tiffany Wharton and her children Violetta, left, 11, Rocco, 8, Salvatore, 5, pack blankets into a vacuum sealable bag at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman, with son Jack, 9, above, raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Volunteers pack boots, blankets, winter clothing and other donations at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Volunteers Azra Basic and Jonah Fearnley zip tie pairs of boots together for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Volunteers pack boots, blankets, winter clothing and other donations at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Volunteers pack boots, blankets, winter clothing and other donations at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Volunteers pack boots, blankets, winter clothing and other donations at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman, with son Jack, 9, above, raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Volunteers pack boots, blankets, winter clothing and other donations at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Volunteers pack boots, blankets, winter clothing and other donations at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Volunteers Karen Otto and Amber Baudino pack blankets into vacuum sealable bags for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Volunteers Tiffany Wharton and her children l-r Violetta, 11, Rocco, 8, Salvatore, 5, pack blankets into a vacuum sealable bag at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church for shipment to Kara Tepe refugee camp tent in Lesbos, Greece on Saturday, January 16, 2016. With the help of the local community and businesses, Erin Freeman raised more than $10,000 to send 1,000 sleeping bags and boots to refugee children at refugee Camp Moria as well as at the ports and on the beaches as the children and their families arrive on the island of Lesbos, Greece, escaping violence in Syria and other neighboring countries.

By Pamela Manson The Salt Lake Tribune

· January 16, 2016 4:44 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Salt Lake City resident Erin Freeman had hoped to raise $6,000 to help refugee Syrian children through an online campaign that she launched on Thanksgiving day.

Within weeks, the donation total exceeded $10,000 and churches and businesses also had collected piles of winter clothing and other items to help out, she said.

And on Saturday, the community responded again by assisting at a "packing party" at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church in Salt Lake City. Volunteers packed sleeping bags, boots, clothing, coats, gloves and other items to ship to Lesbos, Greece, where refugee camps Moria and Kara Tepe are located.

Included in the boxes of donated items are letters and pictures written and colored by Utah children. They will hang in areas where the children — many of them orphans — are housed.

Freeman said she was touched by the turnout of dozens of volunteers, including Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, Salt Lake City Councilman Arlyn Bradshaw and Patrick Poulin, executive director of the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City. The stay-at-home mother of three boys said she decided to start her Indiegogo campaign, 1,000 Boots and Sleeping Bags for Refugee Children, after seeing images of suffering refugees.

The shipment of the donated goods is the first phase of the campaign and the next will be the purchase of more necessities with the monetary donations. Freeman and a few other volunteers plan to travel at their own expense to Greece and to work with organizations there distributing the donations at the refugee camps, as well as at ports and on beaches.

The campaign is ongoing and all donations are tax deductible. Visit 1,000 Boots on Indiegogo at http://tinyurl.com/z4om7dt or on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/hf9gkgo for more information.

pmanson@sltrib.com

Twitter: PamelaMansonSLC