Local efforts to sponsor refugee families to settle in the Battlefords continue to move along.
Organizers have set up a non-profit organization to recruit volunteers and raise money. A website entitled www.livingskiesrefuge.com, is now up which includes more information about the endeavour.
As well, their second public meeting was held Monday evening at the Don Ross Centre to recruit volunteers and encourage donations.
According to their lead contact, Nicole Leinenweber, the efforts are to settle refugee families in the Battlefords. “We’re just going to do one at a time, but that’s our long-term goal,” said Leinenweber.
Resettling them here, however, will require funds.
“We need to provide for them for the first full year they are here, and all their startup costs as well,” said Leinenweber.
To raise money, they will be selling 2016 calendars through their website for $20. Those will feature photos of local immigrants and refugees in the Battlefords who volunteered to have their pictures taken. Local businesses have sponsored the production costs of the calendars.
More information is expected to be up soon at their website about that effort. Also, donations are being accepted and tax receipts will be issued, with their fundraising target set at $50,000.
Any donations are welcomed, but those seeking a tax receipt for the 2015 year will need those donations in by the end of this year.
Refugees have been in the news for months, due to the crisis in Syria that has seen many news stories about people flooding European borders to escape the conflict in the region.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged to resettle some 25,000 refugees in Canada and the issue has generated ongoing discussion.
Local efforts are entirely a grassroots.
“We now have a huge volunteer base that is going to help us out,” said Leinenweber. “Our steering committee has meetings planned and we’ll continue with our education efforts.”
The process to select a family is in progress. Leinenweber says that process will continue over the next couple of months as they evaluate potential candidates.
The main criteria will involve making sure the candidates that are screened are “suitable for our area, that they’re safe in their ability to adapt as reasonable,” said Leinenweber.
One criteria will be making sure they are able to work once they arrive. She says they will probably focus on a smaller family at first, but no specific number is required.
Their next major fundraiser is set for March 12 at the Children’s Carnival at the Field House. More details about that will be released on their website. The organization also has a Facebook page.
