Who is a “Refugee”? 

“A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence”.

Next Saturday, 12 December from 4:30 pm -8 pm at the BlackRock Bistro, a PARRSBORO WELCOMES REFUGEES spaghetti supper fundraiser!

Vegetarian and gluten-free options available on request.

Tickets are $15 each.

Email [email protected] or message us on Facebook to reserve yours now.

You can also pick your tickets up at Main & Station (Parrsboro’s old Post Office) or from Nancy Curleigh, Uli Rockenbauer, Irene Taylor, Judith Bauer, or another of our many group members.

For more information about PWR and for how to make your donation, please read below.

A group of concerned Parrsboro citizens have formed a committee named “Parrsboro Welcomes Refugees”.  We will be privately sponsoring a refugee family of four.  Our family will have been previously screened by UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and the Government of Canada.  Most people are both well informed and aware of the stressful situation in the Middle East and Syria.  The Federal Government has promised to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of this year.  We are eager to assist in reaching this goal.

Canada is the only country in the world to allow private sponsorship.  Sponsoring a refugee family is a concrete way to respond to the biggest humanitarian crisis since World War II.  The Federal Government’s Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and the organization Immigration Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), assume overall responsibility and liability for the management of sponsorship.  Our committee will be working closely and jointly with ISANS.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada will be responsible for a rigorous security screening.  Our group is responsible for housing, food, clothing, local transportation and other basic necessities of life for the first year.  By then they are assumed to be basically independent.

Keep an eye on both the fundraiser page and our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ParrsboroWelcomesRefugees/) for more information about refugees and other groups working to help these desperate families and children!

We have set up an online fundraiser under https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/6132M2 and to date we have raised over $7,000.  If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us.  We would be happy to respond to your questions or concerns.  Tax receipts will be issued by ISANS in the year 2016 for all financial donations over $20.

Please open your hearts and be willing to help.