• More than 487,497 people crossed the Mediterranean in 2015 by mid-September, almost 3 times the number crossing in all of 2014
• More than half (54%) are Syrians
• 18% of all trans-Mediterranean arrivals are children.

In the face of this tidal wave of humanity, I have felt helpless. What can I possibly do to assist? But I've decided, after a few days of hand-wringing, I can do something - I can give and I can walk!  Perhaps you'll join me?

1.  Give to Save the Children, a GG-recommended charity.  Save the Children is on the ground wherever large-scale emergencies are affecting children.
.

• In the countries of origin - 90% of the 250,000 people arriving in Greece this year are from Syria, Afghanistan, or Iraq - Save the children runs child-friendly spaces, carries out large scale infant and child feeding programs, and provides warm clothes, helping about 1.6 million children to date.
• In the countries of transit/destination - e.g. Italy, Greece, Serbia, Croatia - Save the Children works in receptions centers, provides showers, clothes, food, and guidance, especially to unaccompanied children (in 2015 of 23,000 children arriving in Italy, 8570 were unaccompanied).
• In the countries of destination - e.g. Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Finland - Save the Children has set up recreational and educational activities for children in reception centers with local volunteers, with special advocacy and programs for unaccompanied children, including assistance in various railroad stations. By the end of 2014, 147,000 refugee children lived in Germany, of which 17,000 were unaccompanied.  From January to  August 2015, 256,938 people sought asylum in Germany, 86,000 of which were children.
• To read more, click here. 

To give to Save the Children and help sustain their life-saving efforts, click the button below. 
2.  "Walk the Walk" by joining the GG November 14 walk along the San Francisco bay shoreline if you live in the San Francisco area. The proceeds from this GG-sponsored event will go to Save the Children's Child Refugee Crisis Relief Fund. Not only will you get exercise, but you will  enjoy time with friends and, most importantly, raise your voice to support fellow members of the global community.  Click here to find out details of the walk, or how to donate if you can't make it.