Peterborough community comes together to sponsor a family of Syrian refugees

Salaam Peterborough is raising funds and donations to bring mother and her three children to Canada

By kawarthaNOW -
Published
"Salaam Peterborough - Families Helping Families" is a group of residents in Peterborough and Millbrook who are raising funds to sponsor a family of four from Syria
"Salaam Peterborough - Families Helping Families" is a group of residents in Peterborough and Millbrook who are raising funds to sponsor a family of four from Syria

A group of Peterborough and Millbrook residents have joined forces to bring a family of Syrian refugees to Peterborough and have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds.

Salaam Peterborough – Families Helping Families is a group of families in Peterborough and Millbrook who are raising funds to sponsor a family of four from Syria: a mother and three children (a 12-year-old daughter, 10-year-old son, and 8-year-old daughter). The United Nations High Commission on Refugees has pre-screened the family and has identified them as being at great risk. The family is in Lebanon awaiting Canadian immigration screening.

The group is co-sponsoring the family with the local Catholic Diocese through Casa Maria House, a non-profit organization in Peterborough that supports and offers safe temporary shelter to refugees and refugee claimants.

Salaam Peterborough will be responsible for the Syrian family for a year. This includes finding and furnishing a residence for the family, helping with language, school registration, OHIP registration, child care, transportation, classes, employment, and more.

Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, more than four million refugees have fled Syria for other countries, such as this family living in Lebanon (photo: Wikipedia)
Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, more than four million refugees have fled Syria for other countries, such as this family living in Lebanon (photo: Wikipedia)
The co-sponsors in Salaam Peterborough have collectively donated $10,000 to the cause, and the group is seeking to raise the balance of funds needed to settle the family in Peterborough. They need a mininum of $13,500, and would like to also raise another $4,000 to cover the cost of the family’s flight to Canada.

The group has set up a bank account at the BMO branch on Simcoe St in Peterborough. Anyone who wishes to make a contribution to help this cause can make a deposit to any BMO directly or through e-transfer to the email address SalaamPtbo@Outlook.com. The account number is 0017 8974-435 and the account name is Salaam Peterborough.

Alternatively, you can contribute to Salaam Peterborough’s GoFundMe campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/ep4pf4f8.

All of the funds raised will go directly to the refugee family, including any surplus above the fundraising goal.

You can keep informed on Salaam Peterborough’s progress on their Facebook group or at their GoFundMe page.

The co-sponsors in Salaam Peterborough are Tom Calwell, engineer and dance teacher; Lise Fines, teacher with PVNCCDSB; Rick Fines, musician; Carla Gorman, teacher with PVNCCDSB; Kristy Hiltz, veterinarian; Myra Hirschberg, dance teacher and urban homesteader; David McNab, OPP constable; Stephanie Melles, Ryerson University professor; Lee-Anne Quinn, nurse practitioner, Canadian Forces UN Peacekeeper; Paulette Quinn, teacher with PVNCCDSB; and Trevor Middel, Brad Steinberg, and Phung Tran, biologists with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

As well as funds, the group is also seeking donations of time, skills, furniture, and more. If you have items to donate or wish to donate your time, you can contact any of the co-sponsors.

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