The well-publicized image of a Syrian toddler dead on a beach in Turkey in September impacted a Cobden woman so much, she has organized Fashion Extravaganza to be held at the Cobden Legion Friday and Saturday. This is an initiative of Project Welcome.
It’s an opportunity to revamp your wardrobe with gently worn pre-owned clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories for men, women and children, she said.
“You’ll find brand name items from Guess, Banana Republic, Steve Madden, Mexx and more,” she said.
The event is Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a $2 donation at the door.
All proceeds are going towards helping settle refugee families in the area.
Recalling that photo that is seared into her memory, Ms. Dupuis said, “I felt called to do what I could to help, so I looked into what it would take to help sponsor a refugee family from Syria resettle in Canada.”
The application process is a long and lengthy process she discovered, and she learned she needed at least five people to sponsor a family. She joined a group of people in Pembroke who began Project Welcome, a non-profit organization dedicated to sponsoring at least one refugee family.
“We have teamed up with the United Church, a government-approved sponsorship agreement holder, to speed up and streamline the sponsorship process,” Ms. Dupuis said.
She became involved in the fundraising initiatives and will be directly involved with the resettlement of a family once they arrive.
The goal is to raise enough money to sponsor at least one family. The five sponsors must commit to providing financial support to the family for one year after their arrival, as well as helping them find employment, learn to speak English, facilitate cultural awareness, school registration and everything a family needs to survive and thrive in a new country, Ms. Dupuis explained.
It’s suggested the financial support will be about $26,000, she said. With fundraising going on for a while now, she said there is almost enough to bring the family to the area. However, the group continues to raise money so more than one family can settle here, she said.
While there are comments made that people should fundraise for what’s needed or required in Canada without bringing in refugees, Ms. Dupuis disagrees.
“There are so many causes and so many people who can benefit from fundraising initiatives both locally and globally,” she said. “The way I see it, we are all human, we are all citizens of the world and we all deserve safe and healthy living environments.”
People have a choice to make regarding who to help, she said. They can stand around and dispute who needs more help, or bond together and help wherever they can.
“There are more than three million people who have been displaced because of the war in Syria,” shes aid. “These people don’t have local charities that can help. I see the situation as a global issue that requires the assistance of people from around the world and we need to help in the same way we have come together in the past to provide relief for victims of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.”
While cleaning out her closet and discarding clothing she no longer wears or wants, she came across the idea of everyone doing that and bringing the items to the Legion to be resold. Since pitching the idea at a Project Welcome meeting, the items have been non-stop in coming in, she said.
“The donations came pouring in from people all over the Valley, Ottawa and even as far as Toronto,” she said. “And donors have been generous. We have a lot of fantastic brand name and designer items for men, women and children being sold for a fraction of their original costs.”
Ms. Dupuis said many of the clothing items are $10 or less while designer handbags and wallets are selling for $40 to $60.
“It really is a great way to freshen up your wardrobe and do something good in the process. This is a win-win fashion-charity situation.”
If you would like more information on Project Welcome, please visit the Facebook Page of the same name.
