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Oakville answers the call to support new Syrian immigrants by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 25 | Thursday, December 17, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville is answering the call from Canada's Governor General to establish a collaborative community effort in support of the resettlement of new Syrian Canadians. Local groups will act as drop-off locations for donations of clothing, food and personal items and the Oakville Community Foundation (OCF) Resettlement Fund is being directed to fill additional needs recently identified during a community discussion. The announcement by the OCF of the coordinated community effort coincided with Governor General David Johnston's visit to Oakville Tuesday (Dec. 15). Johnston spoke about Syrian refugees coming to Canada during an event co-hosted by the OCF and Oakville Chamber of Commerce. "In Oakville, the new Canadians from Syria will be sponsored through private and family sponsorships, which ends after a year," said Wendy Rinella, OCF CEO. "While the private sponsorship is for one year, at $25,000-$30,000, the Foundation's Vital Signs Report pins the living wage for a household at about $40,000 a year. We are aware there will be gaps in support, which the Resettlement Fund is set up to help local charities address." The Resettlement Fund was established in September -- to address resettlement challenges in Oakville -- while a community discussion can be made online at www.theocf.org. Other community groups across Halton are also joining the humanitarian cause. Many local faith organizations are putting together their own effort to sponsor families, while the Halton Multicultural Council (HMC) has opened a special line of donations to support refugees in Halton through its Interfaith Community Initiative -- for more information, visit hmcconnections.com. In addition, Toronto-based Lifeline Syria (lifelinesyria.ca) is helping residents interested in sponsoring a family, as is Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). According to the CIC website (http://goo. gl/qfOmcd), as of Wednesday (Dec. 16), 1,570 permanent resident visas to Canada have been issued with 946 Syrian refugees having already arrived in the country. The Canadian government has announced it will be accepting and resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees. Suggested donation items Governor General David Johnston was co-hosted by OCF with Ward 5 Councillor Jeff Knoll on Dec. 3 at Town Hall. That meeting included Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, local councillors, 60 participants and representatives from 30 organizations, including business, education, government, police, charity, service and faith groups. The discussion identified areas of need and challenges, including: lack of affordable housing; English-as-a-second-language training; job placement; access to translators; cultural sensitivity for service providers; transportation; and, access to halal foods. OCF will make grants to registered charities playing a role in refugee resettlement. Donations to the Oakville Resettlement Fund DAR Foundation preferred food and personal items list for Muslim families (no drop-offs will be accepted between 12:301:30 p.m. in the winter months as the mosque is in service): Food Rice, pasta, flour, yeast, baking powder, tomato paste, oil, ghee. vinegar, lemon juice, canned vegetables, tuna, fish, dry beans, lentils, cereals, cereal bars, snacks, honey , dates, all dried fruits, all dry herbs, salt and pepper, coffee, green tea, black tea (preferred), sugar, non-fresh juice, vegetable soup/cubes, infant formula/milk. The following foods can be dropped off only on Wednesdays (9-11 a.m.): milk, dairy products (feta cheese, cheddar cheese, yogurt), butter, margarine and eggs, fresh and frozen vegetables/fruits, fresh juice. Halal frozen meat is only accepted from halal farms (Maple Lodge or SergeantFarms) or through preferred halal shop, Shah halal meat at 2427 Trafalgar Rd. Exceptions (the following food/products are not allowed for Muslims): pork, non-halal meat or any product containing nonhalal chicken, beef or pork animal product, such as chicken or beef soups, lard, pepsin, animal gelatin or alcohol. Personal Care Items Toothbrush, toothpaste. hairbrush, feminine products (no tampons), soap and shampoo, toilet paper, diapers, bandages and antiseptic. O Thursdays 1:00 ­ 6:30 pm P Saturdays 10:30 10:30 am am ­ ­ 1:30 1:30 pm pm E Saturdays N Sundays 10:00 am ­ 12:00 pm Homemade Homemade Ukrainian Ukrainian Food Food terrace take-away all prepared and easy to warm up 905.337.1400 ext. 116 cafe@sjucc.ca www.terracetakeaway.ca St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church 300 River Oaks Blvd. East (at Trafalgar) Oakville ON