Two weeks ago, Scott Miller believed he would be vacationing in coastal Mexico as he had planned — chasing surf, enjoying the ocean-side breezes and eating his share of shrimp cocktails.

As today’s edition hits the stands, however, he and fellow relief worker Kara Kelty stand on the Greek island of Lesbos, anticipating another influx of refugees arriving in their hundreds — if not thousands — from Syria and other war-torn Middle Eastern and North African nations.

“Mexico will always be there, but this is a crisis,” Miller said, describing a recent moment when he and Kelty sat before the television, watching footage of refugees arriving in Greece, feeling a similar emotion strike. “I think we need to bear witness to this …. There’s a lot of room for normal people to contribute.”

Miller and Kelty are from Flagstaff, but he owns real estate in Sedona and his mother lives here.

Inspired by the realization that something could be done — that “a lot of gaps could be filled by regular people” — Miller and Kelty sprang into action, contacting relief organizations in order to be listed as official volunteers. Plane tickets purchased, they created an online crowd-funding campaign to raise money.

“We’ve paid our own ways,” Miller added. “We’ll be on the ground for roughly two weeks. Any money anyone gives us, before or during the trip, will be distributed to aid efforts in Greece.”

To read the full story, see the Wednesday, Nov. 18, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.