NEWS RELEASE
TIMMINS LOCAL IMMIGRATION PARTNERSHIP
*************************
As the first Canadian-sponsored plane transporting Syrian refugees lands in Toronto, local businesses in Timmins are doing their part to assist in sponsoring a family to the City with the heart of gold.
With a $6,750 donation from Timmins Building Supplies to the Timmins Refugee Sponsorship Committee, the group can now move forward with their application to sponsor a Syrian refugee family.
Timmins Building Supplies is also looking at offering employment and providing home renovations for the family if necessary.
“As Canadians, we are very lucky not to have to go through terrible events like this in our lifetime” says Pascal Morin, co-owner of Timmins Building Supplies. “We have been seeing and hearing about this refugee situation for too long and we decided that something had to be done. By doing this, we are giving a family a chance to start over in our great City where fear of war does not exist”
Thanks to Timmins residents who made purchases between October 1 and November 30, Timmins Building Supplies was able to donate 3 percent of cash sales to the Yo Mobile and the Syrian Refugee Fund.
Many other local businesses have joined in the effort by either donating financially or offering free services to the family once they arrive.
This includes everything from phone/internet service, furniture, temporary accommodation, post-secondary education, skill training, health/dental care and everything in between.
With this substantial donation from Timmins Building Supplies and the generous support from individuals and local businesses, the Committee has officially initiated the sponsorship process and are now in the queue to be matched with a family.
The matching process can take up to a month, but the group expects the family to arrive sometime early in the new year.
Donations are still being accepted by the City of Timmins and can be dropped off at the City Hall main floor finance desk.
Cheques should be made payable to: The City of Timmins – Syrian Refugee Fund. Donations can also be made online at www.timmins.ca.
The City will issue receipts for donations.
Anyone interested in joining the volunteer effort, donating in-kind items, or offering support services for the family when they arrive, should contact the Chairperson of the Committee, Tom Baby, at (705) 269-8622 or [email protected].
*************************
