December 14th, 2015
Our Story and Beliefs
WCI has committed to Private sponsorship alongside Calvary United Church of a Refugee family!
We will welcome our new neighbours in 4-16 weeks and we will need to fundraise over $30,000.00 in cash and in-kind donations to make their first year of transition to Canada successful.
WCI has a long history of caring for our local and global communities and we see this ground breaking sponsorship as our next step in making that caring real. We believe our actions are as important as our money, and our commitment to this family for all aspects of their resettlement in their first year in Canada is testament to our values.
We believe no one is a refugee by choice, and that these human beings are the classmate or friend we just haven’t been introduced to yet. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates 59.5 million individuals were forcibly displaced in 2014. WCI students, staff, parents and community members believe we need to take action, because we can.
Our Partners
Under the current agreements in place with the Federal Government of Canada, WCI will be working on a Private Sponsorship with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) as the Sponsorship Agreement Holder with the Government, and with Calvary United Church in St. Jacobs as the Constituent group for the MCC. The intention is to sponsor a refugee family from Lebanon who has been displaced from Syria.
The MCC has a long and proven history of short-term and long-range support for global crises, and Calvary United Church has experience in private sponsorship that will assist WCI through our journey. Our partners believe that; “welcoming resettled refugees to Canada is one way in which we can act on a desire to bring peace and justice here in Canada and around the world.” (MCC Memo of Understanding as Sponsorship Agreement Holder, 2015)
What Can I Do?
- Donate money: cash, cheque (made out to Calvary United Church), or online http://bit.ly/wci-refugee. Tax receipts will be issued.
- Donate in-kind resources; we need a wide range of goods and services (housing, medical, dentist, food, clothing, and household items). For a complete in-kind list see our website wci.wrdsb.ca, or contact Mr. Jason Vandermeulan at 591-884-9590. Tax receipts may be possible in some in-kind situations.
- Participate in our Fundraisers or start you own: roadside collection, Fast for Freedom, club and class events, and community group events.
Tags: donations