A few weeks ago, a Sooke group announced it will take the torch to bring a Syrian family here, and now the Juan de Fuca electoral area has offered to pitch in as well.
So far, the formally-called Sooke Region Refugee Sponsorship Committee has reached 20 per cent of its goal.
With an additional $5,000 pledged by JdF, the committee is well on its way to reaching its $50,000 goal, said Sid Jorna, committee chair.
“A lot of people are wondering how best to help out with the refugee crisis,” he said. “All donations we receive will go directly to paying the bills for a family settling here in Sooke.”
In retrospect, the funds will support a family of four for a year until it becomes self-sufficient, supplying it with a suitable living space, food, furniture, basic necessities, as well as its integration into Canadian society.
So far, Jorna said the committee doesn’t yet know who it will bring to Canada, but it will certainly be a family that was forced to leave its home because of the war and persecution that has been unfolding in Syria for the last two years or so.
“Can you imagine coming home from work and finding one of your children beaten unconscious by militia? Or being given 24 hours to leave or face beheading? Those are the kind of conditions these people are fleeing.”
Later in the process the refugee committee will look for housing and donations of household goods and clothing.
Right now though, the volunteers are focusing on fundraising.
“We’re off to a good start, but we’ve got a ways to go yet,” Jorna said.
For more information, including how to donate, visit teamsookejuandefuca.ca or call Sid Jorna at 250-642-2767.