Susan Sarandon welcomes refugees to Lesbos - She will spend her Christmas holiday on the Greek island listening to the migrants' stories

Susan Sarandon is on the Greek island of Lesbos to greet refugees and migrants as they arrive from the nearby coast of Turkey. The American actress and activist traveled to the northern shore of the island last Thursday to meet volunteer rescuers and migrants as they arrived.

She helped the refugee children, who were soaked from their treacherous crossing on the boats, to change into new clothes and plans to spend the Christmas holidays on the island with refugees, helping the efforts of various humanitarian organizations on the island.

She wrote on her Twitter account on Thursday:

“Today the sun is out and the wind has calmed down in Lesbos. A good day for boat arrivals.

A Spanish volunteer group on Jet Skis guide the rubber boats in as we wave from shore. They direct them away from the cliffs to a place they can land safely.

Medical assistance, blankets, socks, dry clothes, hot tea and juice await them. As they climb out of the boat, I’m handed a little girl who managed to stay dry except for her feet. At first she is frightened but her thirst overcomes her fear as she drains the juice box.

I take off her wet shoes and socks, warm her feet and put on new socks. I find out the girl’s name is Semihan. She is Iranian and 5 years old.

Her mother joins us, shy and shaken. She also has two sons and a husband with her.

I can see that she’s trying to hold it together. When we make eye contact, I touch her shoulder and tell her in a language that she can’t understand that I’m happy she made it safely. With that little bit of kindness, she breaks.

I take her in my arms and I, too, begin to weep because I have two boys and a girl also. I can’t imagine what state of desperation could make getting on this overcrowded, rickety boat seem like a good idea.

Who are these refugees? Where are they from? What led them here? Where will they go? I have come to hear their stories and learn.

I hope that I can make it possible for them to have a voice so we can understand. Understand that “these people” are just like us, wanting to keep their children safe. Wanting them to have a future. ”