The past three years has meant a lot to the Humboldt Area Refugee Coalition.
And they continued their efforts with their third annual Refugee Coalition concert on Feb. 3 at the Community Gathering Place.
Erin Ruel with the coalition says this is a time where people get together, especially those who have been to all three concerts. Ruel says that this is the only time she gets to see some people is when they come out to support the coalition.
When the coalition started back in 2016, everything was new to them, says Ruel. But with the constant support of local volunteers, everything has been handled well.
“I feel very lucky in how we’ve come together to handle those things and the people that we have working together I find most things haven’t felt like that huge of a challenge just because we have such a good group.”
Planning the concerts have gotten easier but other than that, not much has changed with all five bands remaining the same over the three years.
This is a cause that Brian Grest of 40 Oz. Philosophy always jumps to support.
“It’s about everybody. It’s about community, spreading the love, kindness, and doing the right thing.”
He was on stage twice, once with the band and the other as a solo act with members of the band backing him up.
Ray Whitton also jumped at the opportunity to support the cause, even if he has not been on a stage since the last concert in 2017.
“What’s more Canadian than helping others? It’s the same reason I brought Finley (my son) to the show and had him up there with me. At any age with the smallest of gestures we can all be helpers.”
He was joined on stage by his five-year-old son who caught the performing bug himself, says Whitton and you may as well start them early, both on the performance side and helping others side.
“He obviously doesn’t understand the politics or cultural aspects but he is a good boy and is always the first to ask- can I help? My hope for him is that he continues to ask and contribute regardless of the cause. The world, now more than ever, needs helpers.”
Abdulkerim, Sena, and their children, the first Syrian family that the coalition sponsored, have been in Humboldt for a year and they have become more friends than a sponsored family, says Ruel.
While they no longer receive financial support from the coalition, Ruel says they still support them in other ways.
Money raised from the concert will be going to a second family that the coalition is looking to sponsor but they have a long way to go before that is a reality, says Ruel.
