LETTER

LETTRE

Five Ukrainian families welcomed

 

The Refugee Sponsorship Group (RSG) of the parishes of Saint-Paul and Saint-Médard in Aylmer launched an appeal in March to welcome Ukrainian refugees who are in a country of refuge in Europe.  The response was beyond the expectations.  Five families will welcome a Ukrainian family into their home for up to twelve months.  
      As it has already done for two Syrian refugee families in 2016 and 2018, RSG will help Ukrainian families by providing them with general assistance for their integration into our community, such as job search, enrolment of children in daycares and school, interaction with governments and the private sector to receive a social insurance number, a health insurance card, permanent residence, opening a bank account, etc. Host families will share their accommodation and provide food to the Ukrainian families.  After they have learned French, the RSG will help the Ukrainian families find accommodation and furniture.  These Ukrainian refugees want to settle in Quebec and Canada in a welcoming and peaceful community.
    We appeal to your compassion and generosity to help the Refugee Sponsorship Group sponsor the first two families of Ruslan and Viktoria, and three other Ukrainian refugee families who will soon arrive.  All funds will go to support both host and Ukrainian families.  RSG's goal is, in a first phase, to raise $5,000 per sponsored person, for a total of $30,000 for the first two families, until they can support themselves.  The second phase of the campaign will aim to fund the sponsorship of the three other families.
    Anyone can make a cash donation or cheque made out to St. Paul Parish or St. Medard Parish, indicating that your donation is made for the sponsorship of Ukrainian refugees. You can mail your donation to one of the following two addresses:
St-Paul Parish,             or            St-Médard Parish,
26 Eardley Road,                     23 St-Médard Street,                
Gatineau, Quebec, J9H 0K2                 Gatineau, (Quebec), J9H 7E4
    For donations of $20 or more, the parish will mail you a tax receipt in February 2023.
    Questions, or to volunteer, call me at (819) 360-6780 or (raymond_sabourin @hotmail.com).
Raymond Sabourin
Head of the Refugee Sponsorship Group
Aylmer