News from the Pen Centre, Niagara Furniture Bank and Niagara Refugee Assistance Committee
Posted January 21st, 2016 on Niagara At Large
Niagara Region, Ontario – The Niagara Refugee Assistance Committee and Niagara Furniture Bank have announced a partnership to help avert 10,000 square feet of hotel furnishing from landfill and make it available to Syrian refugees and other families and individuals in need.
Syrian refugees arriving in Canada
Hotels are updating furnishings and instead of the furniture heading for landfill and a group of hotel owners in Niagara is donating the still very usable goods to the Niagara Furniture Bank who provides gently used home furnishings to families in need in the Niagara Region.
“With the influx of Syrian Refugees, there is more stress on already restricted resources of our organization, such as space, staffing and stock”, explains Niagara Furniture Bank Executive Director Gillian Kemp. “We are thrilled by the leadership and generosity of these local businesses”.
The Pen Centre’s timely donation of a 10,000 square foot space to store the furnishings has alleviated a major bottleneck and ensures the hotel donation will be maximized.
The Niagara Refugee Assistance Committee has been working with municipal governments, community partners and local agencies such as the furniture bank to identify, mobilize and coordinate resources to support the settlement of refugees.
They will be organizing volunteers to help with the massive undertaking of moving furnishings from hotel sites to temporary storage at the Pen Centre. From there it will be dispersed around the region and to other furniture banks.
Collaboration with other GTA furniture banks will mean that refugees in other areas will be served as well and that none of this generous donation goes to waste.
The public may access more information about the Niagara Refugee Assistance Committee, volunteer or donate through the Refugee Assistance Portal at www.folk-arts.ca.
Financial donations can be made directly at http://gofund.me/syrianassist. At the present time the committee is emphasizing the need for financial donations and housing leads.
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