The Tatla Lake community is pulling together to sponsor a refugee family.
“Thirty of us decided that while we couldn’t change the world, we could change our little corner of it,” said Roy Paul, chair of the Tatla Lake Refugee Committee.
“With 60 million people in refugee camps around the world, we wanted to make a difference.”
He said the committee is comprised of a cross-section of Tatla Lake residents including business people, young professionals, ranchers and retired people.
The refugee committee is affiliated with the Anglican Diocese of the Kootenays in the B.C. Central Interior and has set a goal of raising $30,000 to sponsor a refugee family of four for one year.
“We have become the 10th sponsoring group affiliated with The Anglican Diocese of the Kootenays in the B.C. Central Interior through the kind advice of St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Williams Lake,” Paul says.
To date he says the group has raised $15,000 by personal donations from Tatla Lake residents and is now reaching out to the greater community to help the project.
He said some of the local donations have come through by way of one-time cheques, while others have chosen to stretch their commitment over 12 months with equal payment post dated cheques.
“We’ve been humbled by the caring response from our neighbours, as we know that in these economic times, this response has not been without sacrifice,” Paul said.
Paul said he was also able to offer his sincere thanks this week for a donation of $1,000 from the Credential Financial Team at the Williams Lake and District Credit Union.
He said the committee plans to continue fundraising throughout 2016 with licensed raffles and special events.
“Sponsoring is a way to both unite our community in a common goal, as well as broadening it in spirit and diversity,” Paul says.
People wishing to help with the project can contact Paul at 1-604-628-5413.
Donations are eligible for receipts for tax deductible purposes, Paul said.