Tornado - Please help Laila
Donation protected
Many families have been affected by the terrible tornadoes that hit Ottawa and Gatineau on Friday.
People are donating to general funds to help people and that is wonderful.
Of all of the situations I have encountered in this disaster, one stands out.
Laila and her family have been in Canada for a number of years. They don’t have much and they lived in an apartment in the Mont Bleu area. In addition to working full-time, Laila volunteers to help Arabic-speaking newcomers, most recently Syrian refugees, navigate their way by accompanying them to appointments and providing translation. This includes medical appointments where intimate issues are discussed, including thoughts of suicide. Laila is trusted, she stays in touch and she follows-up with the refugees she helps.
Laila is a trusted confidante to everyone in the refugee community. She is seen as someone they can all count on. She has given money to newcomers to help them get on their feet, when she herself does not have much.
Yesterday Laila was able to see her home for the first time when the dangerous area was opened. She trembled and could not believe that she and her family had survived when she saw their home. Their home was on a street corner, in the direct and immediate path of the category 3 tornado.
Yesterday, the red curtains in her daughter’s bedroom wafted in the air, in a window that was absent of any infrastructure. Her car was wrapped around the tree in her front yard, only the left front bumper was visible under all of the debris. Intact car insurance informed her that they could not help her until the car had been towed and assessed. (No idea how that will happen. You can’t attach what’s left of the car to a tow truck.). Intact insurance is adamant that they will not provide Laila with a loaner car. So, she has nothing, no where to go and no way to get around.
Her home was torn down today.
Because Laila and her family have helped so many newcomers. Because Laila is a selfless woman. Because Laila is someone we know. Because Laila deserves our help and has no idea that we want to help her. Because it’s a good thing to target our help.
Info required by Go Fund Me:
I am someone who has helped over 70 government-sponsored Syrian refugee families in the Outaouais region. Many of these families live in the Mont Bleu area of Hull when the tornado touched down. The hardest hit was Laila who has volunteered her time and resources to help the families settle in.
Laila and her family are starting from scratch. Your donations will be sent to Laila via e-transfer and she will determine her priorities, starting with finding a place to live, replacing all of her family’s belongings and trying to rebuild her life.
Thank you for your kindness.
❤️
Further info required by the Go Fund Me organization so that funds can be released to Laila:
I will withdraw donated funds directly to myself and will then send your donations to Laila via e-transfer.
People are donating to general funds to help people and that is wonderful.
Of all of the situations I have encountered in this disaster, one stands out.
Laila and her family have been in Canada for a number of years. They don’t have much and they lived in an apartment in the Mont Bleu area. In addition to working full-time, Laila volunteers to help Arabic-speaking newcomers, most recently Syrian refugees, navigate their way by accompanying them to appointments and providing translation. This includes medical appointments where intimate issues are discussed, including thoughts of suicide. Laila is trusted, she stays in touch and she follows-up with the refugees she helps.
Laila is a trusted confidante to everyone in the refugee community. She is seen as someone they can all count on. She has given money to newcomers to help them get on their feet, when she herself does not have much.
Yesterday Laila was able to see her home for the first time when the dangerous area was opened. She trembled and could not believe that she and her family had survived when she saw their home. Their home was on a street corner, in the direct and immediate path of the category 3 tornado.
Yesterday, the red curtains in her daughter’s bedroom wafted in the air, in a window that was absent of any infrastructure. Her car was wrapped around the tree in her front yard, only the left front bumper was visible under all of the debris. Intact car insurance informed her that they could not help her until the car had been towed and assessed. (No idea how that will happen. You can’t attach what’s left of the car to a tow truck.). Intact insurance is adamant that they will not provide Laila with a loaner car. So, she has nothing, no where to go and no way to get around.
Her home was torn down today.
Because Laila and her family have helped so many newcomers. Because Laila is a selfless woman. Because Laila is someone we know. Because Laila deserves our help and has no idea that we want to help her. Because it’s a good thing to target our help.
Info required by Go Fund Me:
I am someone who has helped over 70 government-sponsored Syrian refugee families in the Outaouais region. Many of these families live in the Mont Bleu area of Hull when the tornado touched down. The hardest hit was Laila who has volunteered her time and resources to help the families settle in.
Laila and her family are starting from scratch. Your donations will be sent to Laila via e-transfer and she will determine her priorities, starting with finding a place to live, replacing all of her family’s belongings and trying to rebuild her life.
Thank you for your kindness.
❤️
Further info required by the Go Fund Me organization so that funds can be released to Laila:
I will withdraw donated funds directly to myself and will then send your donations to Laila via e-transfer.
Organizer
Amanda Cliff
Organizer
Ottawa, ON
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