Group of Edmonton social workers aims to sponsor Syrian family
Paige Parsons (November 24, 2015). Edmonton Journal. Retrieved from: http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/group-of-edmonton-social-workers-hope-to-sponsor-syrian-family
A group of Edmonton social workers is calling on colleagues across
the province to help raise funds needed to sponsor a Syrian refugee
family.
The group comprises faculty members from the University of Calgary Department of Social Work’s Edmonton campus. It needs to raise $30,000 to cover the expenses of a family of five’s first year in Canada, which will pay for housing, food, clothing and transportation.
“We just felt that as social workers we could be doing more to make a difference,” said Julie Drolet, one of the professors spearheading the sponsorship.
Drolet said during a department meeting last month there was a discussion about how she and her colleagues could get involved. Drolet proposed they start a refugee sponsorship.
“There was great support amongst our colleagues in Edmonton, and also with our colleagues in other parts of Alberta,” Drolet said.
Drolet said they’re hoping to tap into that support to meet the $30,000 target.
“We’re also inviting social workers to join with us as volunteers, if people have donations of expertise that they’d like to lend, in helping to facilitate the settlement and integration. We think that social workers can play an important role in this,” she said.
The social workers are also hopeful the general public will be willing to make donations and are interested in partnering with any groups interested in holding fundraising events to help meet the goal.
Drolet said once a certain amount of money has been raised, they’ll be able to choose a family, who will arrive in Canada about four to six months after that.
Drolet said she and her colleagues are hopeful they will be able to assist the family getting settled.
For more information or to make a donation to this campaign, visit the Mennonite Central Committee’s website.
pparsons@edmontonjournal.com
twitter.com/paigeeparsons
Donate money
The group comprises faculty members from the University of Calgary Department of Social Work’s Edmonton campus. It needs to raise $30,000 to cover the expenses of a family of five’s first year in Canada, which will pay for housing, food, clothing and transportation.
“We just felt that as social workers we could be doing more to make a difference,” said Julie Drolet, one of the professors spearheading the sponsorship.
Drolet said during a department meeting last month there was a discussion about how she and her colleagues could get involved. Drolet proposed they start a refugee sponsorship.
“There was great support amongst our colleagues in Edmonton, and also with our colleagues in other parts of Alberta,” Drolet said.
Drolet said they’re hoping to tap into that support to meet the $30,000 target.
“We’re also inviting social workers to join with us as volunteers, if people have donations of expertise that they’d like to lend, in helping to facilitate the settlement and integration. We think that social workers can play an important role in this,” she said.
The social workers are also hopeful the general public will be willing to make donations and are interested in partnering with any groups interested in holding fundraising events to help meet the goal.
Drolet said once a certain amount of money has been raised, they’ll be able to choose a family, who will arrive in Canada about four to six months after that.
Drolet said she and her colleagues are hopeful they will be able to assist the family getting settled.
For more information or to make a donation to this campaign, visit the Mennonite Central Committee’s website.
pparsons@edmontonjournal.com
twitter.com/paigeeparsons
How can I help Syrian refugees coming to Edmonton?
Many Edmontonians moved by the plight of Syrian refugees want to help, but aren’t sure how. Below are a number of ways to get involved by volunteering, donating money or items to assist with the resettlement of Syrian families in Edmonton, as well as information about how to offer housing or help with sponsoring a Syrian family.Donate money
- The Edmonton Mennonite Centre has set up the Syrian Emergency Relief Fund to collect money that will be used to help with settlement needs for Syrians arriving in Edmonton. All funds will be used to support Syrian refugee families and any donations collected before Dec. 31 will be matched by the federal government’s Syrian Emergency Relief matching fund.
- Edmonton Catholic Social Services is also collecting donations. To specifically give money to support Syrian refugees, call 780-432-1137.
- Islamic Family Social Services Association is collecting clothing donations that will be used to help not only Syrian Refugees, whose need for clothes vary, but any individuals in Edmonton who are in need. For more information, call 780-430-9220 or email info@ifssa.ca.
- St. Vincent De Paul is working with Catholic Social Services to support incoming Syrians and is accepting seasonal clothing — winter boots, coats, mitts, scarves, etc. — as well as housewares. As with IFSSA, donated items may be distributed to any local people in need.
- Catholic Social Services is gathering information from people interested in volunteering with Syrian refugees. People can indicate the amount and type of volunteering they’d like to do here or by calling the Syrian refugee volunteer line at 780-391-3338.
- The Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers is also recruiting volunteers and is currently looking for homework tutors to support newcomer and refugee children in schools. For more information call 780-424-7709 or visit the EMCN website.
- Edmonton Catholic Social Services is co-ordinating landlords in Edmonton and Red Deer who are willing to rent out a residence to incoming refugees. Property owners can apply to rent out their unit by filling out this form.
- The Mennonite Central Committee Alberta is accepting donations to supplement the efforts of groups that have been unable to raise enough money to qualify to sponsor a Syrian family. For more information about sponsorship, email office@mccab.org.
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