A Syrian refugee family will make their home in the largely rural area of Guelph-Eramosa Township in the coming weeks.
The Guelph Eramosa Sponsorship Project (GERSP) has raised about one-third of the $30,000 it needs to ensure that the family has what it needs to settle in the community in its first year.
Marion Willms, a registered nurse, is a spokesperson and organizer for the group. She said an 18-member committee has been assembled, and over 30 volunteers from all walks of life — including farmers, nurses, members of the clergy, students and academics — have been enlisted. The volunteers come from various areas of the township, which surrounds Guelph to the north, east and west. The project includes faith-based community members and representatives from several United Churches, including one in Guelph.
Willms said the effort was prompted by news of the dire circumstances of the ever-growing Syria refugee population. Syrians have fled their homeland in the millions over the past roughly four years, flooding into Turkey, Lebanon, Greece and several European countries. A great many have died while making their escape from their war-torn country.
“For me personally, I have been a part of a number of international projects,” said Willms, who was in Haiti during the earthquake of 2010. She also helped coordinate humanitarian health care projects in El Salvador, Guatemala and Africa.
“I wanted to continue that passion of supporting individuals who are in situations where they are not safe,” she said. “Their homes are gone and they need our help.”
There are five United Church congregations backing GERSP, she said, including Rockwood, Stone, Speedside, Barrie Hill, and Three Willows, which is in Guelph.
“We are about a third of the way to raising the funds we need,” Willms added. The group hopes to raise a substantial amount through community fundraising events.
The first of those is a pasta dinner on April 16 at Rockmosa Hall (74 Christie Street in Rockwood). Tickets and information is available by calling 519-763-6968.
For more information about events, to volunteer or to make a donation, send an email to [email protected] or visit the GERSP website here.
“We have a smaller community here in Guelph-Eramosa,” Willms added. “We’re hoping that the connection for this refugee family will be more rural, more small town.”
