Armstrong sets goal of bringing Syrian family out of crisis

ARMSTRONG – Efforts are underway to bring a Syrian refugee family to the North Okanagan.

The initiative is still in the early stages, but organizer Ron Brinnen is hoping the community of Armstrong will get on board. 

“The goal is to sponsor a family of four children and their parents and have them settle in our community,” Brinnen says.

Armstrong is the latest southern Interior community rallying to bring a Syrian family out of crisis.

In Kamloops, a group called Refugees and Friends Together is trying to raise $30,000 to bring a family over.

Meanwhile, a Syrian couple and five of their children have made Kelowna home after being sponsored by the Central Okanagan Refugee Committee.

Brinnen says a public meeting is being held to discuss the Armstrong initiative Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Pleasant Valley Secondary School auditorium. The meeting will start at 7 p.m.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.