Syrian refugees to be welcomed by several Nova Scotia communities

Timberlea Baptist Church has just filed its paperwork, butexpects a Syrian couple with five children to arrive by the end of Decemberor early January.

"When the word went out, I sat there with almost tears in my eyes,"said Ben John, a member of the church's refugee sponsorshipcommittee. "Just to get out of that place and have good health care,good food, and good education."

The congregation has already found a house for the familyand plan to stock it with food, just before they arrive.They're also collectinggift cards so the newcomers can buy their own clothing.

The Timberleachurch also has plans to bring a second Syrian family tothe area.

"We had to make a decision to bring one family right now becausethe need is so acute,"said John. "But we'd like to bring another familywithin the next three months, after the first one has arrived."

The congregation is reaching out to other local churches and tothe wider community for support.

A Shelburne group is not as far along in the process to sponsor a family,but it doesn't expect a prolonged wait.

"Now,the way things are moving politically, it sounds as though threeto sixmonths could be quite reasonable,"said Cathy Holmes,a member of the Shelburne refugee sponsorship committee.

A "housewarming" event to gather household furnishings is plannedfor Nov. 1at the ShelburneHarbourYacht Club.

People havealso pledged professional support.

"We have people who have said they'll taxi people back andforth to appointments," said Holmes. "We have other people who havesaid, 'I can help in the area of counseling.'"

The group is working with the United Church of Canada.