With the crisis in Syria, Canada plans to take in about 25,000 Syrian refugees in the coming months. This includes families and individuals of all ages, all of whom need help settling into their new environment. The biggest challenge these refugees will face once they arrive in Canada is the cost of setting up a home. In fact, it is estimated that $27,000 is the minimum amount of money needed to support private sponsorship of a family of four refugees for a year.
This is just an estimate, however, as many Canadian philanthropists are estimating the true cost is a bit higher.
According to the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW), the low-income cutoff for a four-person family in Canada is $34,839.
So, if you'd like to help out, here are some ways you can facilitate the settling process for Syrian refugees coming into Canada:
Donate furniture
Most of these people are coming here with no money in their pockets. Furnishing a home can get expensive, so instead of throwing that old couch or table away, maybe donate it to a local refugee charity or organisation. Furniture donations can make a huge difference and can be beneficial to your new neighbours because they probably don't have much else.
Donate winter clothes
Syria is a relatively warm country, so don't expect many of these refugees to have winter clothes. If you've been living in Canada for awhile, then you know the winters require layers of warm clothing. Winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves, even heavy socks -- these types of clothing donations could make the process much easier for Syrian refugees, especially children. If your child has outgrown winter clothes, donate them to a local charity!
Donate kitchen supplies
Securing a home is expensive by itself, but when you factor in expenses like furniture and kitchen supplies, settling in gets even more costly. Donate used pots, pans, utensils and cutlery to help make families feel more at home. They're not going to have the money to eat out all the time, so a nice, home-cooked meal might smoothen their transition.
Donate money
If you don't have enough money to sponsor a family, you can still make a donation to a registered Canadian charity. Many organisations have been set up to support relief efforts in Syria, and the federal government will match every dollar donated through the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. Contact your local immigration centre or refugee house today and see what types of monetary donations are commonplace.
Volunteer your time
It's fine if you don't have money or supplies to donate. If you'd still like to help Syrian refugees, you can volunteer at a shelter. This work can entail anything from babysitting to translating (if you're multi-lingual), as well as sorting through donations and paperwork.