Soon a Syrian family will be calling Lacombe home.
Plans to bring a refugee family to Lacombe continue as members of the Lacombe Community Refugee Effort (LCRE) continue fundraising efforts. A benefit concert to raise funds has been planned for the end of this month.
The community group received word last week, through the application process, a family of seven from Syria, currently living in a refugee camp in Lebanon will be resettling in Lacombe. The family includes a 30-year-old male, a 31-year-old female, a 10-year-old girl and four siblings ages five and under.
The LCRE consists of several community members, organizations and four church congregations. The small army will assist the family in all aspects of life including securing housing, giving rides, translation services, filling out forms, childcare and securing things like a bus pass.
The federal government estimates the cost of settling a single refugee to be around $12,000. The group estimates $35,000 will need to be raised to resettle the family of seven.
LCRE Co-Founder Betty Cruickshank said the group has been overwhelmed with support from the community so far. Donations of bedding, beds, clothing and other items have already rolled in. The group is currently accepting donations of large furniture items, like dressers. More information regarding other types of donations and the needs of the family will be available in the future.
The benefit concert is planned for Jan. 30th at 7:30 p.m. at Wolf Creek Community Church (located at Hwy. 12 and Wolf Creek Drive in Lacombe.)
Organizer Rod Vandaelle said 100% of the funds raised at the concert will go towards LCRE.
“It is a musical evening for the resettlement of a family from Syria to Lacombe, ” he said.
The evening will feature performances from Flat Iron Jazz, Randi Boulton, C.J. Berube, Kim Berube, Mattie Dewald and Flashback Freddie.
Groups or artists will play a few songs each. A table for donations will be set up along with a highly sought after silent auction item.
Tickets are $25 and are available at Sunny 94, the Mary C. Moore Public Library and from committee members.
Donation envelopes have also been distributed around Lacombe by the LCRE to assist in collecting funds. Envelopes can be found at the Mary. C. Moore Public Library and City Hall among other locations.
It is unknown at the time of publication exactly when the family will arrive.
For more information about the benefit concert contact Vandaelle at 403-782-1842. For more information about the community effort or to donate an item contact Cruickshank at 403-782-5357 or Marlene Ironside at 403-350-1753.
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