COBDEN — This past weekend’s Fashion Extravaganza raised just over $4,200 dollars for Project Welcome, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing private sponsorship of refugee families.
The second-hand clothing sale, held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Cobden, attracted an unanticipated number of attendees over the two-day event.
“I was hoping we could raise at least $2,000 to contribute to our fundraising goals,” said event organizer, Shara Dupuis of Cobden. “I was blown away by the outpouring of support given by the community toward our refugee sponsorship efforts.”
Ms. Dupuis became involved with Project Welcome during its establishment in September. The group of dedicated volunteers is hosting a variety of events throughout the Ottawa Valley in order to meet the government recommended goal of $26,000 to support a family of four, and to continue raising funds to sponsor more families.
“The crisis in Syria is what inspired those involved with Project Welcome to come together, but an opportunity for any refugee family in need of relocation to a safer environment is our mandate,” said Ms. Dupuis.
Project Welcome administrators began the application process Wednesday and the family selected will be from Syria.
“We want to do our part in helping with the current situation,” she said.
A number of events are being held throughout the Ottawa Valley in order to continue raising funds for Project Welcome.
Petawawa photographer Amanda Urbanski of Amanda Urbanski Creative Photography, donated all proceeds from holiday photo shoots that took place on Sunday.
“I wanted to help because I know how crucial my own community was in helping my family in the process of starting over, back in St. Catharines when my family first immigrated to Canada from Poland,” said Ms. Urbanski. “It made the transition less intimidating and brought a sense of normalcy to our lives, so the decision was simple—to give back the same way others had given to my family in their time of need.”
In another effort to raise funds, Project Welcome volunteers are hosting a bake sale at the Pembroke Mall on Sunday, Nov. 15 from noon to 5 p.m.
“People in this community are so eager to help,” said Shannon MacLaggan, event co-organizer. “By coming and purchasing a few treats, it seems small, but by showing your support and using your dollars for something meaningful and right, it’s actually a huge step in the right direction.
“We are all so powerful and impactful when we work together.”
The Main St. Spa in Cobden is also contributing the proeeds to Project Welcome at a “Mini-Mani Night” on Nov. 17.
“We opened up 20 appointment slots and they were filled almost immediately,” said spa owner Michelle Dupuis.
Plans are also underway for a Martini Night Gala at Dineamics in Pembroke with live entertainment by Midlife Crisis on February 27, 2016. Tickets will be available for purchase at Dineamics and White Pine Yoga in Pembroke at the end of the month.
Project Welcome is working with the Upper Valley Presbytery of the United Church of Canada, a registered charity with decades of experience in sponsoring refugees. Any newcomer families sponsored by the organization will be selected from a list of approved refugees generated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
You can learn more about these events and future events by finding Project Welcome on Facebook. Monetary contributions can be made by visiting gofundme.com/projectwelcome.
