This fundraiser is for Sharif Sharaf and Mukhtar Amiri on behalf of The Globe and Mail.

It’s been just over a year since Globe and Mail translators Sharif Sharaf and Mukhtar Amiri with their families made their journeys to Canada.

They were met with enormous generosity and kindness. Thank you again to everyone who donated money, furniture, toys, warm clothing, and other essentials – and to those who have taken time out of their busy lives to visit the two families and make them feel welcome in Toronto.

Now comes the hard part.

For the first year the Sharaf and Amiri families were here, they received – in addition to the money raised in our previous GoFundMe campaign – support from the federal government that included rent-free apartments.

Unfortunately, that support has come to an end, leaving Sharif and Mukhtar struggling to make ends meet. Rent for both families is $2,500 a month, with all the usual bills piled on top of that.

Sharif says he will soon have to ask his two older sons, Samiullah and Hashmatullah, to abandon their post-secondary educations so they can take turns with him driving an Uber.

Mukhtar says he and his wife are unable to afford new clothes and shoes for their fast-growing daughters: Marwa, 10, Safa, 7, and Dunya, 6.

Both Sharif and Mukhtar are too proud to ask for more help. So, we’re asking on their behalf.

Staff and friends of The Globe were amazing in their support for the two families when they arrived a year ago. Times are hard for everyone, but if we can all pull together one more time, we can keep Sharif’s sons in school (his daughter Samia is also studying), and get some warm clothes for Marwa, Safa and Dunya.

The Globe is starting off the fund with the commitment of a $10,000 donation to be split between the two families. Thanks also to the Revenue team who raised $542 for the Sharaf family at their holiday party.