Syrian refugees may come to Tofield – Community information meeting planned for March 4 to ask for support and volunteer help

A group of concerned local people have gathered together with the intent of working towards bringing up to two Syrian refugee families to Tofield.

Deanne Stauffer and Mark Loewen met with the Tofield Mercury last Friday in a bid to explain how this proposal might work for perhaps a couple of refugee families who had to flee their native Syria due to the civil war now waging there.

“The churches are on board,” said Stauffer, “but we are looking for broader community-based support.”

She said there are “numerous types of volunteer work that people could do for this cause including fundraising, committee work and supporting the refugees themselves.

“The big thing is (offering) companionship,” said Loewen, who is pastor at the Salem Mennonite Church. That could involve helping the refugees to get important formal documents such as driver’s licenses, shelter, clothes and food.

For more see the Feb. 23/16 Mercury