INNISFAIL - The Welcoming Communities Committee is one step closer to welcoming a Syrian family of three.
The committee recently finished completing its application and all of the necessary requirements. They are now waiting to hear back from Immigration Canada as to the status of the refugee family they are sponsoring. The new Syrian refugee family will be the second to come to town, after the Kahwate family who arrived last February.
“Our application is in and the website indicates that within 30 days we should hear something (from Immigration Canada),” said Pastor Kathy Calkins, a committee member. “They will look at our application to make sure that we are eligible and approved for sponsorship. Then they move to the refugee family (for screening and processing of paperwork).”
The committee completed and submitted its application on Oct. 11, making the 30-day wait period end Nov. 11, noted Calkins. At this point, the committee has not yet heard a reply, but is eagerly awaiting some good news, she added.
In the meantime, the committee is in contact with the Syrian refugee family via email.
“We are actually in contact with her and keeping her updated,” said Calkins, noting they have continued with regular meetings and fundraising events.
She said one recent event that helped the committee raise funds was last month's Christmas Market at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion where the group held a bake sale.
“That was very encouraging. The support from the community still continues to be strong,” explained Calkins, adding the bake sale raised more than $1,200, along with several cash donations that also totalled more than $1,200.
“We sold all of our baking and in addition to that we received some very generous donations from the community,” she added. “We're estimating that we made over $2,500 that weekend.
“We should be close to $21,000 that we've raised (so far),” said Calkins, noting the government requirement is $28,000 for a three-person refugee family.
Calkins said the committee has always been focused on fundraising and will continue to raise funds for the family even after they arrive, pointing out the need for more than the bare minimum for a family to live on.
As things continue to worsen in Syria, said Calkins, there is more need than ever to help Syrian refugee families.
“With the recent news coming out of Syria again with the fierce bombing of Aleppo, more and more people are needing to leave there,” said Calkins. “It really shines a spotlight on the importance of our efforts and the continued efforts of everyone to care for these people.”
Kathy Calkins, committee member
"It really shines a spotlight on the importance of our efforts and the continued efforts of everyone to care for these people."
