The Syrian refugee families destined for Weyburn may not arrive now until later this spring, due to a slowdown by the federal government in processing the refugees, the Weyburn Syrian Refugee Committee has learned.
Meanwhile, the committee held a successful fundraising pasta supper on Saturday evening at McKenna Hall, bringing in just over $16,000 and bringing the committee close to its overall fundraising goal of $100,000, said committee chair Don Horner on Monday.
There were 244 tickets sold for the supper, and a total of $14,740 was raised from the ticket and beverage sales, from the silent auction items and from donations made at the supper over and above the ticket price, said Horner.
“We had a good night. We’re very close to that target of $100,000 now,” he said. “I thought if we could raise $15,000, this will get us nicely started, and if we do decide we need to raise more, we can hold a fundraiser later on.”
The bad news came from the sponsorship agreement holder, the Western Canadian Baptists based in Calgary, as they have received word that the refugees may take a few more months before they get here, because the government has slowed down processing refugees.
“They were working flat out to get 25,000 refugees into Canada, and as soon as that happened, they backed off processing more refugees,” said Horner, noting the refugees they have lined up for Weyburn have already been approved, but weren’t approved prior to the end of February when the federal government aimed to have 25,000 Syrian refugees processed.
“We’re in a hold-and-wait position right now,” said Horner, noting the first family was originally supposed to come by the end of March, but now may not come until some time in April, or later.
Horner has meanwhile sent letters to Regina MP Ralph Goodale, Immigration Minister John McCallum and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to press the case for the refugees, to try and get them here sooner.
The apartments for the first two refugee families are set up and ready for them, but meantime the committee may consider letting the other apartments go and to store the furniture until they have a better idea of when the refugees will be able to come.
Another wrinkle also is that the federal government is no longer paying the air fare for the Syrian refugees, but are offering low-interest loans to pay for the flight costs.
There will be a clothing collection day at the Weyburn Free Methodist Church on Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The church is located at the corner of 14th Street and Coteau Avenue, and is collecting clothing for the following.
For men, they need clothing for one older man in his 60s, for five men in their 30s or 40s, for twin 12-year-old boys, and for a six-month-old baby.
For women, they need clothing for an older woman in her 60s, for three women in their 20s or 30s, and for a two-year-old girl.
The church does not as yet have actual sizes for the refugees. The adults are believed to be of average size, around medium-large North American size. The clothing will be made available to the refugees as they arrive, and any clothing not used will be made available to the community at a later date, or given to another charity.
If anyone is unable to drop off clothing on the collection day, they can be dropped off at the church from April 5 to 30 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Furniture donations are being accepted by Grace United Church, and household effects, bedding and linens are being collected by St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
