Sponsor Syrian Refugees to PEI

Want to help Canada's smallest province bring Syrian refugee families out of harm's way? 

We are a collection of citizens, churches, and interested parties in Queen's County PEI. We are working together to try to bring at least 4 families to the Charlottetown area this coming winter, and to settle and support them.

We have one application - for a family of 8 - currently in process, and if our community support is broad enough, we are prepared to begin  sponsorship of at least 3 other families immediately. Our group has a mandate to take in refugees based on need - religion will not play a role in the selection process.

The first family being sponsored are currently in a refugee camp in Lebanon. They have been there for 2 years, living in what is barely a subsistence environment.  
A number of the churches involved have successfully sponsored previous refugee families, and this consortium has already raised well over $30,000 locally. Proceeds from this GoFundMe will be added to that growing total - the online campaign aims to add at least $25,000 to the overall goal of $100,000, which would enable us to consider 4 applications. All donations - even $5 - are a meaningful way to make a difference in this urgent crisis, and are deeply appreciated. :)

If you wish to receive a charitable tax credit (Canada only) for your donation of $20 or more, please contact Trinity-Clifton United Church to request a receipt: 
http://www.trinityclifton.org/

Commitment to You
100% of your donation - except the 5% that GoFundMe charges for their platform - will be going to support the refugees.  Absolutely no funds received through this campaign will be used for administrative costs outside the GoFundMe share.

We are committed to ensuring that the families we sponsor to PEI receive the best possible care and outcome once they arrive.  We have many people who are willing to volunteer:  time, feet, and wheels on the ground.  Your generous donation will ensure that we have monies for initial food costs, medical needs, dental needs, household items, and, of course, rent.

VOLUNTEER WITH US:
How else can you help?

Perhaps you are not in a position to donate funds to this important cause, but you may be able to provide other means of support.  Our families will arrive here with literally nothing.  We are organizing to raise clothing and household donations in the community, and to build support networks for families upon their arrival. We need places for them to live, we need furniture for their homes, we need community support, we need love and care and understanding. If you are are a doctor or dentist we need you in particular.  :)

If you wish to help with that end of the sponsorship, please click on the link below and tell us how you would like to help: 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/142hwfa3E96Ee6C1tMiOc2mLQnINifvvZPN_6j2bc5eY/viewform

EDITED NOVEMBER 25th TO ADD:
The province and the PEI Newcomer's Association have a wonderful new initiative announced today, called The Welcome Project. 
http://www.peianc.com/content/lang/en/page/settlement_welcome
The Welcome Project will be a central coordination point for a great deal of volunteering from around the province, and our group will be welcome to draw expertise and help from their group. We will continue to collect offers of clothing and support via the Google Doc above, but we also encourage the broader community to get involved with The Welcome Project so that PEI can mobilize supports for refugees as effectively as possible.

OUR SPONSORSHIP TEAM:
We have applied to sponsor through Canada's Blended Visa-Office Referred Program, which matches refugees identified for resettlement by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with private sponsors in Canada. 
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/sponsor/vor.asp

Coordinator: Philip Whittaker
Outreach Committee Chair: Don Scott
Social Media Coordinator: Bonnie Stewart

Community members:
West River United Church
Winsloe United Church
York-Covehead United Church
Central Queens United Church
Saint Paul's Anglican Church
Spring Park United Church
Trinity-Clifton United Church
Citizens in the Community