Shipping Winter Clothing to Refugees in Europe : Best Options

[jeffporfirio]

We know a family of refugees in Belgium.
(long story, but is a very poor family from our home country whose teenage daughter got raped by members of a criminal gang and the family was probably going to get murdered since they went to the police. People from all over chipped in and luckily they managed to fly the family out to Europe and they have been settled as refugees in Belgium)

So anyways, we want to send them winter clothing (snow pants, warm socks, jackets) and boots, but shipping through UPS or CanadaPost is almost $300 for a 25 lb box. Does anyone here have any suggestions? Would contacting UPS or CanadaPost help? Are there any programs that may transport this type of aid for cheap?

Thanks

[Canehdianman]

You want to send a package to someone, I don't think you are going to find an entity that will subsidize your shipping costs.

My best suggestion is to donate the clothing here in Calgary, and email them some money instead. They can buy winter clothing in Belgium.

[Wormius]

This might go against the sentiment of what you are trying to do, but maybe wiring them money to buy clothes would be a better option? Alternatively you could have them go to a store wherever they are in Belgium and just pay for whatever they pick, like a gift registry.

[Wormius]

By the way, we went here when we traveled to The Hague last summer, and the prices were really good. They have some locations in Belgium.

https://www.decathlon.be/fr/

[mikephoen]

Agree with the other suggestions. You’re better off just sending money. You’re not going to beat the system and find a cheap way to ship overseas.

[GordonBlue]

the only way I can think of would be surface mail overseas, but delivery time is 2-3 months.
that doesn't help you now.

[afc wimbledon]

we want to send them winter clothing (snow pants, warm socks, jackets) and boots

You know that 'snow' in Belgium will consists of around a quarter of an inch on the ground for about 2 hours before it turns to rain, and even that is a rarity.
I can remember 2 or 3 snowfalls in the UK in 25 years that I lived there, I assume there must have been more than that but it was so inconsequential I forgot it.

Send them rubber boots and rain coats

[Table 5]

Yeah, winter in that part of Europe is basically like Vancouver. It's going to be rainy and grey. It's not really about keeping warm as it is about keeping dry.

[Wormius]

It depends where they are coming from. I saw people here today dressed like they are on their way to work at McMurdo Station.

[jeffporfirio]

Thanks to all.
We will be shopping for them online.
As for "winter clothing" they do come from El Salvador and anything below 15 is freezing to them.
Again, thanks to all

[Amethyst]

When I moved to Europe, I mailed winter clothes to myself by surface mail. It was considerably cheaper but took a very long time. I mailed things in August, just before I left Canada and then they arrived in time for winter.