Gander holds second benefit for Syrian refugees

Central Newfoundland is stepping up again to support displaced Syrian refugees.

• Hollywood blockbuster San Andreas screening in Gander rakes in donations for Syrian refugees

The Town of Gander co-hosted a benefit concert Friday to raise funds to support Syrian refugees. It was the second event in as many weeks in Gander to support the cause.

The concert brought in over $5,000 through ticket sales and 50/50 draws which aid refugee camps established through the United Nations.

The town helped the cause by covering the cost of producing the concert.

Gander Deputy Mayor Cyril Abbott has said the town itself will not sponsor refugees, but they will do all they can to support the groups who are sponsoring refugees and their families.

"What we'd really like to do is just bring together the Lion's Clubs, the Masons, the Knights of Columbus, all the different organizations that are out there bring them together so that we can coercively work and bring in maybe two, three, four families," he said.

The money raised will be a great support for refugee camps, but organizer Barbara Barronsaidthe event is also about standing up for a cause that people believe in.

"It's really scary when you look around and you see what punishment people have [gone through] when they stand upbut it's just a thing to say we can do it," she said.

"We can stand together, and we can do it together."