Syrian refugees directly benefit from P.E.I. generosity

The P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada has begun to deliver some of the money donated for helping Syrian refugees directly to families.

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The association's Welcome Project for Syrian refugees launched in December, and since then $41,200 has been raised by individual Islanders and Island organizations to help support new Syrian families.

The association is now handing out $100 for every family member to help with the most urgent household expenses.

"Those funds, when they go to the Syrian families, will be used for their most urgent need," said Yvette Doucette with the P.E.I. Association to Newcomers to Canada.

"That could be ... rent, it could be food, it could be whatever they deem the most important."

'Overwhelmingly compassionate'

The donations will take about $22,000 out of the Welcome Project's funds. The group is holding back some funds because more Syrian refugees are expected on the Island.

The group has also collected a warehouse full of household items to help the Syrian refugees get settled.

"The level of Islander support for the Welcome Project has been tremendous," said association executive director Craig Mackie.

"Islanders have been overwhelmingly compassionate toward the plight of refugees who have lost everything."

The association is continuing to take monetary donations for refugees.

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