Brisbane's Greek Orthodox community hopes to help Syrian refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean Sea to Greece by supplying them with basic household items and clothing.

More than a tonne of blankets, pillows, sheets, canned food and clothing have been collected and packed into a shipping container at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George in the inner-city suburb of West End.

Father Dimitri Tsakas said the community started collecting items a week ago and they already had enough to fill more than one container.

Loading

"This collection has been from the four parish Greek Orthodox communities in south-east Queensland," he said.

"I honestly thought we would struggle to fill a 20-foot container, but we have enough now for three or four full containers."

Among the more interesting donations were bags of seedlings to help refugees grow beans and pulses.

"People have been so thoughtful," Father Tsakas said.

"We've had people bring dozens of boxes of food.

"One man wrote food items in Greek on the boxes and went to the trouble of working out how to write the same thing in Arabic.

"Pallets of rice and pasta have been delivered by many Greek businesses from across the city."

Struggling Greeks to benefit as well

Greece itself is in the middle of an economic crisis.

"After speaking to some of the clergies on the islands over there, they told me many items aren't available due to the economic problems," Father Tsakas said.

"There are shortages of clothes items and medicines, so us doing this has a direct beneficial effect."

The first container has been filled with donations in Brisbane's West End. ( Facebook: Greek Orthodox Community of St George Brisbane )

Head chanter Dimtiri Mavromatis said the donations would go to three non-for-profit associations based in Athens.

"The donations will also go to help the Greek population that are poor and in need of help as well," he said.

A bigger 40-foot container will arrive in West End later this week to collect the remaining donations.

Volunteers are still needed to help pack boxes and load the container after 6:00pm each weeknight this week.

"We've been told it will take a month-and-a-half to get from the Brisbane Port over to the communities, so we're hoping to get the other container filled ASAP," Mr Mavromatis said.