Homes for Eritrean refugees set up, waiting for families
MANITOULIN—The homes for the five Eritrean refugee families being sponsored by Island communities are largely secured and, thanks to an army of volunteers over the Christmas season, the floors, windows and doorframes have been scrubbed spotless, draperies and bedding are laundered and the furniture and dishes are set in place.
“The two homes in Little Current are ready to go, the home in Mindemoya is ready to go, Manitowaning is ready to go and Gore Bay has a little way to go yet but is just about ready as well,” said Manitoulin refugee relocation committee spokesperson Dr. Ben Quackenbush. “We are ready and just waiting for the people to arrive now.”
“We are very close to ready,” said West End organizer Jack Brady. “We have the house and we are in the process of renovating now. The young man doing it is doing an amazing job. We hope to be able to move things in at the end of this week.”
“This has been a good voyage,” said Mr. Brady of the experience of preparing for the refugees. “There were some who were sceptical at the start, but people were right there with the donations of materials and financially as well. We have a very good committee working on it.”
The organizers had originally been a little concerned that the families might arrive on Christmas Eve. “That would have had us scrambling,” laughed Little Current refugee spokesperson Linda Erskine. “But we would have managed.”
Although the national consciousness is largely captured by the ongoing saga of efforts to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to the country within the next few weeks, Dr. Quackenbush said that he has been assured that crisis will not impact the Eritrean refugee’s arrival. “Immigration Canada has told the Mennonite Central Committee (the national group through which the Manitoulin Missionary Church and the Island committees are working to bring the refugees to their communities) that the Syrians arrival should have no effect,” he said.
While everything is in place to welcome the refugees to Manitoulin communities, fundraising efforts are ongoing.
“Fundraising has been going very well, we have $60,000 in place already,” said Dr. Quackenbush, “but there is more that needs to be raised.”
Those wishing to make a financial donation to the cause can now make that contribution at any Island branch of the Bank of Montreal, noted Dr. Quackenbush. “They can donate directly at any branch of the Bank of Montreal on the Island, or they can still send a cheque to the Mindemoya Missionary Church if they like.”
