Linda Nunweiler (left) and Sandy Scott showing the beautiful, handcrafted quilts and blankets they’ve generously made and donated to our the Lwisis family.
As you’ve likely heard, a group of volunteers have been working since June to bring a Syrian refugee family to our town. About a month ago, the Oliver Refugee Sponsorship Committee was matched with the Al Lwisi family: a 32 year old dad, 28 year old mom, 7 year old son, and 4 & 2 year old daughters who have been living in a refugee camp in Beirut for at least two years.
As of this week, the Al Lwisis have officially been deemed ‘travel ready’: they have all of their pre-travel requirements and paperwork complete and the Canadian Government has issued them travel visas. Now, we are just waiting to receive word of their arrival date.
We are in the final stages of furnishing a house for the Al Lwisis, and are completing the 1001 other tasks required to help welcome, settle and support them. Interested in getting involved? Here’s how:
Physical and Social Support:
The Al Lwisis will be leaving everyone and everything they know. Though Canada represents safety for them, the transition to a new country, new culture, new language, new everything will undoubtedly be difficult. As such, we are compiling a list of volunteers willing to help socially and physically support them over the coming months, from driving them, to helping them navigate shopping, to coordinating paperwork. If you are interested in learning more, contact Brita Park at 250 498 8889 or britabobpark(a)hotmail.com.
Donations:
Thank you to the many Oliverites who have so generously donated household items, clothing, and toys to the family. The house is now fully furnished.
The Al Lwisis are coming to Canada via a ‘blended sponsorship’, which means the Committee will contribute financial support for the family’s first year in Oliver (budgeted at $2000/per month), augmented by some financial support from the Federal Government for six of those months.
Surprisingly, we just learned that the Syrian refugee family in Summerland recently received an invoice from the Federal Government, requiring them to repay their travel costs in the amount of about $6,000, plus interest, accruing until it is paid off. This will likely be demanded of our family as well, which effectively adds to our fundraising requirements.
To date, we have already raised approximately $14,000 from the community, putting us about half way to our goal. If you would like to donate, THANK YOU! Here’s how:
Because the Oliver Refugee Committee does not have official charitable group status, several local churches have generously agreed to accept donations from their parishioners on our behalf, issue tax receipts to the donors, and then pass all of the donated funds on to our committee. Please feel free to write a cheque to any of the following churches (with ‘Oliver Refugee Committee’ in the cheque’s message line), and your funds will be forwarded in their entirety to this project:
· Christ the King Catholic Church, Oliver
· The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Osoyoos
· St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Oliver
· The Life Church
· Oliver United Church
For convenience, cheques for this project made out to the above organizations can also be dropped off at Beyond Bliss in Downtown Oliver. If you are not a part of any of the churches list above but still want to donate, please write your cheque to Christ the King (Box 130, Oliver BC, V0H 1T0). To donate online via Paypal, visit www.ctkoliver.org/refugees and click on the ‘donate online’ button.
Want more information?
We would love to chat with you, and / or give your group / church / organization / friends a short presentation about this project. Contact Dale Dodge at dodger(@)persona.ca for more information.
We’re also excited that this effort is not limited to our town: currently Osoyoos, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon and Armstrong are in the process of bringing in Syrian refugee families as well, and Summerland is already home to a Syrian refugee family supported by that town.
Finally, a huge thank you to the people of this town for their enthusiasm, support, and contributions! This project is the ultimate in grassroots, hands-on and heart-in compassion, and we are inspired by how many people want to be involved. Wouldn’t it be exciting if the Al Lwisis were just the first refugee family our town welcomes and helps support?