Located in Alpha Centre in town, our Alpha Free Shop is open all day Monday to Friday. By allowing people to come in their own time and choose their own clothes, we work with consideration towards our visitors.

The philosophy of this shop is to prioritise dignity and choice - two values that are completely overlooked in the bureaucratic asylum process.

Whilst the cash assistance programme is operating again (although many people are unable to be reimbursed for the months of money that they should have received whilst the programme was halted), the amount of money given to people is minimal - single adults receive €75 a month. Furthermore, most people in the asylum process do not have the right to work in Greece and hence have no form of stable income. This is why the continuation of support through the distribution of essential items remains necessary.

We are also using our new service to coordinate with Médecins Sans Frontières in creating emergency packs of dry clothes for new arrivals in Samos. The distribution of NFI items is an essential service, and one we have taken on efficiently and successfully integrated into our already busy programme. 

If you have items that you wish to donate to Samos Volunteers, please send an email to logistics@samosvolunteers.org. Alternatively, please consider donating to help us cover the costs of this new service, such as the rent for our new stock management warehouse.