Altona photographer raising money for Syrian refugees through calendar

A Manitoba photographer is teaming up with a print shop in Altona, in a creative effort to helpSyrian refugees.

Jay Siemens, 23, an Altona-basedlandscape photographer is sellinghis work in a 2016 calendar to raise money for refugees settling in his community.

Siemenscame up with the idea on a recent photography trip to Icelandafter receiving requests from people wanting to buy prints of his pictures.

"At the same time I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and I saw a specific article about the refugees coming to Altona and how it was going to increase the population by oneper cent," Siemens said.

"I'd seen other articles before but that one specifically hit me and ... I was like there's got to be a way I can merge these two things together ... and help a cause so close to home."

• Manitoba using emergency resources to bring in up to 2,000 Syrian refugees

• Mennonite Central Committee swamped with Manitobans wanting to help Syrian refugees

Siemens said sharing his work through a calendar seemed like a practical andinexpensive way to raise money.

He pitched the idea to Friesen's Printing in Altona the day he arrived home from Iceland. Right away, the companyoffered to cover the costs of designing and printing 1,000 calendars, he said.

"I was just blown away. It was the best response I possibly could have gotten,"said Siemens.

The calendarswill feature his travel photographylandscape images from Manitoba, Iceland, Africa and Europe.

It's titled 'Where I Belong'and is on sale online for$20, with all of the proceeds headingto his local church charity,Build a Village.

"They're helping five refugee families get their new lives started, helping with their housing and anything else they might need."

"All I know is I have more than I need and I want to help them ... I think we're all given gifts and I think it's a shame if we don't use our gifts to help other humans."

"If this can help them in some small way I'm more than happy to do it."