Winter Relief for Refugees 2026: Food, Heat and Shelter
Winter is hardest for refugee families in Greece. See what they need most, what $25 to $100 provides, and how to send food and warmth this winter.
By Embrace Relief Team · Updated October 22, 2026
The useful part before the long read.
In winter, refugee families face rising costs for food, heat, and warm clothing, often without stable income.
Embrace Relief's winter campaign delivers essential food packages to refugee families in Greece. Gift options are $25, $50, $75, and $100.
Our Refugee Relief program also supports housing basics ($50), help for a family ($100), and monthly giving ($50 a month).
During Ramadan 2025, Embrace Relief food packages reached 1,600+ people in Greece.
For refugee families, winter adds new hardship to an already uncertain life. Many families who reach Greece arrive with little. Cold months mean higher costs for food, heating, and warm clothing, at a time when work and income are hard to find. Through our winter food aid campaign in Greece and our Refugee Relief program, Embrace Relief helps families get through the season with food packages and practical support. Gifts start at $25.
What refugee families need most in winter
| Need | Why it matters in winter |
|---|---|
| Food | Warm, filling meals matter more in the cold, and family budgets are already stretched. |
| Heat and shelter | Safe, heated housing protects children and older people from cold-related illness. |
| Warm clothing and blankets | Many families arrive with only what they could carry. |
| Stability | Help with rent, school, language, and paperwork lets families move from emergency toward a normal routine. |
How Embrace Relief helps refugees in winter
Our winter food aid campaign delivers essential food packages to refugee families in Greece as the cold sets in. Year-round, our Refugee Relief program supports practical needs: emergency housing and rent assistance, food, clothing, language tutoring, education, legal aid, and household essentials. We focus on what each family needs to rebuild a safe routine with dignity.
What your gift provides
| Gift | What it supports |
|---|---|
| $25 – $100 | Winter food packages for refugee families in Greece |
| $50 | Housing basics for a refugee family |
| $100 | Support for a family's essential needs |
| $50 per month | Steady support for recurring needs such as rent and food |
Amounts are listed on our campaign and program pages. Please check the page before you give.
Why Greece?
Greece has been one of the main entry points into Europe for people fleeing conflict and persecution. Each year, new arrivals join families who are already waiting for decisions on asylum or resettlement. During that wait, families need food, housing, and a way to rebuild routines, especially for children. Embrace Relief has worked with refugee families in Greece over several years, including through Ramadan food packages.
Other ways to help refugees this winter
- Give monthly: a steady gift helps cover rent and food as families move toward stability.
- Give your zakat: refugee relief can be an eligible use of zakat. See who is eligible for zakat.
- Give at year-end: gifts made by December 31 count for the 2026 tax year. See year-end giving 2026.
Related reading: winter care for orphaned children.
Frequently asked questions
How can I help refugees in winter?
You can give to a winter food aid campaign, support housing basics, or give monthly to help with rent and food. Through Embrace Relief, gifts for winter food packages for refugee families in Greece start at $25.
What do refugees need most in winter?
Refugee families most often need food, safe heated shelter, warm clothing and blankets, and help with rent, school, and paperwork so they can build a stable routine.
Does Embrace Relief help refugees in Greece?
Yes. Embrace Relief delivers food packages to refugee families in Greece, including a winter food aid campaign, and supports housing, food, education, and legal aid through its Refugee Relief program.
Can I give zakat to refugees?
Many scholars consider refugees in need eligible to receive zakat. Ask a scholar you trust about your situation.
Are donations for refugee relief tax-deductible?
Embrace Relief Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 26-2393075), and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.