As you know, By-Town Chapter is lending its support in 2016 to Najda Refugee Sponsors, a community group working toward sponsoring a Syrian family displaced from their homes by war conflict. Najda now has sufficient initial funds to sign up for a family, thanks in large part to our efforts and donations. Next focus: looking for volunteers – can you help?
By-Town members can proudly claim to have helped Najda achieve its first huge milestone – raising sufficient initial funds to sign up for a family !
We have held 50/50 draws at our events, participated in Najda fundraising events like the popular and fun ‘Name that tune’ quiz hosted by By-Town member Tim McGurrin and our May Bowl-a-thon, and I understand that some generous By-Town members have also made personal donations.
At our Annual General Meeting in April, a number of you indicated that, while you wanted to help fundraise, you also wanted to do more when the time comes.
While fundraising will continue, Najda’s next focus will be preparing to assist the family in settling into our community when it arrives (timing to be determined), and there is so much we can do to help.
As retirees, we are well placed to assist with such daytime tasks as applying for a bus pass, driver’s licence, shopping, arranging for telephone service, setting up a bank account, getting kids enrolled in school, completing documentation such as Child Tax Benefits, OHIP, SIN, and more (see sample settlement plan).
Any help you can provide – in any capacity – would be most welcome. Contact secretary@bytownchapter.com as soon as possible.