The Cochrane organization working to sponsor at least one Syrian family is buoyed by the initial support it has received for the initiative.
A meeting to update people on the group’s progress will be held Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. The location is the downstairs meeting room at the Homestead, at the corner of 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue, entrance via the north door.
Approximately 60 Cochranites have either attended an initial meeting or expressed their desire to volunteer and provide a helping hand to Syrian refugees assigned to Cochrane.
“The response from the community has been very heartening,” said Andy Marshall, co-chair of the recently formed Cochrane Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Group. “The willingness of so many to help with the numerous challenges family members will face in their new country is obviously a key to the success of a sponsorship,” he said.
The group is welcoming any offers of help from Cochranites.
Equally important for the group will be the response from the community to financially support a refugee family. The federal government requires private sponsoring organizations to have sufficient funds committed up front to maintain a family for at least a year. In the case of a family of five, that would be a minimum of $30,000.
“We need to have that money committed before we can formally apply for a refugee sponsorship,” said Marshall.
To help the cause, the group is seeking to partner with a local church or other organization with charitable status that would allow it to give charitable receipts for tax purposes to donors. The group is hoping those arrangements will be in place by the Jan. 28 meeting.
Finding suitable and affordable accommodation, overcoming the language barrier and linking families up with employment and educational opportunities are just some of the challenges facing the Cochrane group in its refugee-sponsorship initiative.
Additionally, the help needed to integrate a family into our society after their long ordeal during the forced escape from their homeland, helping them with basic needs such as purchasing food, providing transportation, meeting their medical needs, and covering a host of other requirements, gives an indication of the extent of the challenges.
For further information, contact Liz Giles, [email protected], 403-932-7753, or Andy Marshall, [email protected], 403-932-6580.
