A request for donations of goods to help ease the humanitarian issue in camps in France has resulted in an outpouring of goodwill and support from people across Cornwall.

Within two days, the Sunday School at All Saints Church in Highertown was filled with everything from kettles, airbeds and toiletries to sleeping bags, clothes and tents and the donations continue to come in. The entry porch is now also filling up.

The Rev Jeremy Putnam, vicar at All Saints Church, said: “It is amazing how quickly our message has travelled around. We have donations coming in from individuals and churches from all over Cornwall. While we didn’t ask for money, we have received some and it is very welcome. It will enable us to purchase other items that may be needed while we are in the area and can better see the needs. We really appreciate all the support.”

The church offered to act as a collection point for donations following a request from one of its members, Lydia Remick.

Jeremy added: “The idea came about after Lydia, one of our readers in training at the church, had been approached by a friend from Cornwall Roller Derby asking if we would get involved and act as a collection point. We felt there was a real issue about how these people were being perceived and felt this was a challenge we should get involved with. It’s about carrying the message that these are human beings. Our beliefs are a far stronger bond than our passports.

“As a church we felt comfortable about reaching out in this way because we know we are also involved in local work as well. We work with the homeless and we support the Truro Foodbank with other churches in the area. Christians Against Poverty use the church for consultations too and members of our church are heavily involved in soup kitchens, street pastors, St Petroc's, dementia action and much more. It’s about loving thy neighbour whether they are here on our doorstep or in Calais.

“Currently 5,000 immigrants are living in diabolical conditions, suffering awful health problems as a result. The UK government’s answer was to build a wall one mile long. Europe does not need another wall. It needs compassion.”

The donations at All Saints will be taken to Calais this week by a group of volunteers from the church. While there, the group also plan on visiting the makeshift Eritrean church which has been set up.

Rowley Surridge, churchwarden at All Saints, said: “We are hoping to link in with charities already working in the area such as Doctors in the World and The World Wide Tribe. They have been working in Calais for a while and they have connections there. They know what they are doing and who most needs the help. We are aiming to learn from their experience. It is also about supporting what they are already doing on the ground."