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Refugee committee continues aid efforts

The Creston Refugee Committee is a busy group these days
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The Creston Committee is providing for one Karen Burmese family from Myanmar and has an application in for a Syrian family.

With the arrival late last year of a family of seven refugees from Myanmar, and another family from Syria in the queue, the Creston Refugee Committee is a busy group these days.

“Fortunately, we get tremendous support from the community,” president Linda Price said on Friday.

Price said the committee recently accepted a cheque for $1,000 from the Creston Doukhobor Society and other fundraisers are scheduled for this month.

“World Refugee Day is in June, but we are calling May our refugee fundraising month,” Price laughed. “This Sunday the Key of She is putting on a concert for us at the Presybyterian Church, and on May 10 and 27 the committee will be selling manure at Wiebetter Holsteins (1235 Wilson Road). And we are having a garage sale at Faraman Farms fruit stand on May 27.

Price said an influx of new members last year has strengthened the committee’s resolve and ability to sponsor refugee families.

“(At a recent meeting) I suggested that it would be great if each member of our Karen Burmese family had a volunteer to help with English lessons and help them connect to the community. In no time volunteers stepped forward and it has been working very well.”

The long-awaited Syrian refugee family of six is still living in a camp in Iraq, having spent a cold winter living in a tent.

“They are now getting ready for their fourth hot summer in a very unpleasant environment,” Price said. “The people of Creston are so kind and and supportive of the refugees and we know they will embrace this family when they arrive.”