Muslim community collecting donations for Syrian refugees

Members of the Muslim community in Saskatoon have come together to collect donations for the arriving Syrian refugees.

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Asad Siddiqui, general secretary for the Muslim Council of Saskatchewan, was manning the donation centre located at the Jamia Masjid Riyadhul Jannah mosque.

He said the group decided to get involved about two weeks ago with help fromthe Saskatoon Open Door Society.

"We are just collecting the small kitchen appliances, small crockery, not furniture, some winter clothing, shoes, different clothing for the kids, men and women," said Siqqiqui.

Once the donations are collected they will be sorted and arranged for the refugees to come and take what they need.

The mosque currently has two rooms filled with donations.

"These people are coming over and they're looking to start a new life here and I think if I was in their shoes, I would hope that the nation that I was going to would be helping and wanting to give a warm welcome," said Wesley Hodgson. He, along with his kids, stopped by the mosque with bags of donations.

"I'm just doing a little bit and trying to bring my boys along with me," he added.

The city's first wave of Syrian refugees landed in Toronto Friday, making their way tothe prairies this weekend.

"I think off the bat, I hope they feel very welcomed, and very cared for," said Hodgson. "I hope that they feel that they're welcome here and that the overall feeling of our nation is that we're not afraid but that we're welcoming these people to make a new life here."

But in the meantime, Siddiqui said the mosquewill be accepting donations until mid-January.

"We have enough space right now, so we can help no problem."