Since 2011, more than four million Syrians have been displaced from their homeland due to civil unrest, fleeing to nearby countries including Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. Half of Syrian refugees are children.
The Liberal Government has committed to accepting 25,000 refugees in Canada, with approximately 10,000 arriving before the end of the 2015. The rest are set to arrive by March 2016.
The first flight has arrived at our Infield Terminal. Welcome to Canada! #WelcomeRefugees pic.twitter.com/MtVhducQpl
— Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) December 11, 2015
The first refugees officially arrived in Toronto on December 10, with more set to arrive in the coming weeks. Peel Region — Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon — are among cities in the GTA committed to assisting refugees as they resettle. Here are ways you can help:
Donate money online through United Way of Peel
Donate Food
Eden Food For Change
Contact: Maureen
Phone: 905-785-3651 ext. 223
Caledon Community Services
Contact: Nicole Dumanski
Email: ndumanski@ccs4u.org
Phone: 905-584-2300
Knights Table
Food resources can be dropped off at the following address:
287 Glidden Road, Unit 4 (Kennedy 2 lights north of Steeles)
Brampton, On L6W 1H9
Telephone: 905-454-8725
Hours: 7:30am – 6:00pm, (every day of the week including weekends.)
The Mississauga Food Bank
Contact: Jon
Email: jon@themississaugafoodbank.org
Phone: 905-270-5589 ext. 229
3121 Universal Dr., Mississauga, ON, L4X 2E2
Hours of Operation: Mon, Tues, Thurs 9-5; Wed 9-8; Fri 9-12
Donate Clothing and Furniture
The Mississauga Food Bank
Contact: Jon
Email: jon@themississaugafoodbank.org
Phone: 905-270-5589 ext. 229
3121 Universal Dr., Mississauga, ON, L4X 2E2
Hours of Operation: Mon, Tues, Thurs 9-5; Wed 9-8; Fri 9-12
Access Storage
37 John Street, Mississauga
905-270-3771
37john@accessstorage.ca
Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Access Storage
143 Heart Lake Rd, Brampton
905-457-0777
143heartlake@accessstorage.ca
Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Volunteer
Volunteer MBC
Contact: Shaminda Perera, Manager of Community Engagement
Email: 2volunteer@volunteermbc.org
Phone: 905-238-2622
One Brampton couple is offering their time on December 28 to pick up clothing and other items from people across the city who may want to donate but don’t have the means to get to the designated locations. Contact them here.
For more information visit United Way of Peel’s website here.