Public meeting Monday as committee hopes to bring Syrian refugee family to Kincardine

A committee formed to bring a refugee family to Kincardine is getting many offers of help.
 

One of those offers has come from the Kincardine Islamic Centre. Three members of the centre met recently with Rev. Kathy Fraser (above) of Knox Presbyterian Church, Kincardine, and members of Knox’s steering committee.
 

The three – Ziyaad Khan, Umar Afzaal and Ayman Faddah – said members of the centre have discussed the Syrian refugee crisis and some are already helping financially in the Toronto area.
 

They said they could help with the settlement of a refugee family since many know the language and have connections. The three also volunteered to serve on sub-committees.
 

There are 10 families involved with the Kincardine Islamic Centre and most have someone working at Bruce Power.
 

Fraser said that she has received many offers of aid, financial and otherwise, since it was announced last month that a committee had been formed to bring a refugee family to Kincardine.
 

Since Knox set up the committee, it has been joined by the Kincardine and Pine River United Churches and St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church. The Kincardine Baptist and Harbour Churches have also shown an interest.
 

Fraser hopes the community gets behind the committee and that it will be able to raise enough money to bring in two refugee families from the same area so they can support one another.
 

A public meeting will be held Monday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church, Kincardine, to answer questions about the program and to receive offers of help.
 

If you can’t attend the meeting and want to help, you can phone Fraser at 519-396-2311 or E-mail her at: knoxminister@gmail.com
 

“We appreciate the opportunity to help,” said Faddah.
 

Fraser hopes that is a community-wide feeling.

-- photo and story courtesy of Eric Howald