Thousands of dollars has been raised by the town's Welcoming Communities Committee to help bring a second Syrian refugee family to Innisfail.
And plans are now underway by the Innisfail Alliance Church to bring a third Syrian refugee family to Innisfail.
“We're waiting for paperwork to come back from a family that we're going to be supporting,” said Andrew Rilling, pastor at the Innisfail Alliance Church. “Right now they are in a refugee camp in Lebanon.”
Rilling said the church would be sponsoring a family of five that includes two parents and three children. They believe two of the children are teens and the third is an eight-year-old boy.
“We've been working on this for a couple of months, since around the beginning of the new year,” he said, noting that the church congregation is rallying together to support this family.
“We will be collecting household items, as well as giving people the opportunity to make donations to support the family financially,” explained Rilling. “Overall we're very pleased with how things are going.”
Erin Falk, chair of the Welcoming Communities Committee, said they are waiting for the paperwork to be completed and the necessary funds raised before they completely commit to bringing a specific second family to town.
She noted the committee wants to focus on a refugee family based on need.
“We're aiming for a family of four. That could be a mom and dad and two kids or a mom with three kids, or it could be a mom and a grandma with two kids,” said Falk, noting they will remain flexible to possibly include other family members to reunite them here in Canada.
“We don't know what (that family of four) will look like,” she added. “We're raising enough money for four people. We're going to have to be a little flexible. That could mean we may bring in two sets of grandparents if there's already a family here and they had to leave their parents there,” said Falk. “We may consider that as well.”
Officials with the Welcoming Communities Committee are hoping to have the paperwork and funds raised by the summer.
In the meantime, fundraising efforts are moving forward to help the second and third families coming to town.
The Innisfail Nazarene Church held an ecumenical choir service and Easter musical called Victor's Crown, presented by the Innisfail Ministerial Association on March 26. An offering was taken during the service and donations raised were split between the Welcoming Communities Committee and the Innisfail Alliance Church.
“I think it's a part of our mission to reach out and help those that are in need,” said Jeff Baker, pastor at Innisfail Church of the Nazarene. “It's our mandate to be there and support and help these families that are in these war-torn countries to give them a safe place to live.”
The fundraising concert for the second refugee family on March 19, entitled Sharing Our World, provided an evening of entertainment and information. It featured headlining act Potter's Clay Quartet and musical groups Sweet n' Sour and Joy Abounds. The event was attended by the Kahwate family, the first Syrian refugees to come to town who arrived in mid-February.
The Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion donated the facility free of charge in support of the event, which attracted more than 120 citizens. A total of 41 donations from the evening helped raise $4,373.05 that night.
Other donations were collected by residents to help cover and sponsor various expenses, such as utilities, rent, phone, sports and activities.
“The community has been very supportive. It's been really, really positive,” said Evelyn McCrackin. “Our overall goal is to raise $40,000 to support a family (of four) for one year. This is our kickoff fundraiser and is just the beginning.”
For more information or to donate and help sponsor a Syrian refugee family please email Welcoming Communities at [email protected].
Pastor Jeff Baker
"It's our mandate to be there and support and help these families that are in these war-torn countries to give them a safe place to live."
