Dear HAT members and supporters,
I am writing this as we are all coming to
grips with the horror, the tragedy and the senselessness of the Paris attacks.
Beyond the shock of November 13th, I have been struck with the vast
range of responses, from the inspiring example of the Parisians who opened
their doors to strangers, to the disturbing hate crimes committed in many
countries around the world, including at least one instance in Toronto. Many of the victims of these hate crimes are
themselves refugees fleeing ISIS. As humanists, I hope you agree it is the
hospitable Parisians who ought to be emulated.
With that in mind, I am inviting you to
support the Humanist Association of Toronto in its latest project. We are working
in partnership with Oraynu (the Jewish secular humanist organization) and
possibly other allied organizations seeking to sponsor a Syrian refugee family
to come to Canada. This was a plan we were already discussing before this
month’s attacks, but it seems ever more important now to demonstrate that our
society is a generous and welcoming one. The success of this project depends on
your help, in two important ways.
Financial assistance: Sponsoring organizations need to raise the equivalent of one year
of welfare before the sponsorship can proceed. At our October 2015 steering
committee meeting, HAT committed to raise $9000, which would be 1/3 of the
required amount for a family of four.
Settlement assistance: After our refugee family has arrived, they may still need
assistance in other forms. Can you volunteer to help find an apartment, take
them on errands, translate for them (if their English is inadequate), etc.?
Would you have old clothes or furniture to donate? This is in the future, but
we would like to compile a list of people to call on.
If you would like to help this effort in any way, please fill out
the form on the next page and mail it to
Humanist Association of Toronto
PO Box 68559
360A Bloor St. W.
Toronto, ON M5S 1X1
You can also reply through email.
Thanks for your support,
Moses Klein (for
the HAT steering committee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I want
to help HAT settle a refugee family in Toronto
[ ] I am helping out financially. Here is
my tax-deductible cheque for ____________ payable to Humanist Association of
Toronto. (Please write “refugee” on the memo line.) You can also send an Interac transfer to HATTreasurer@gmail.com, or by
Paypal at http://tinyurl.com/oys5vgg .
[ ] I can help with settlement by ______________________________________________________.
(Please describe what you can offer.) You can also reply by email to
mosesklein@gmail.com
[ ] I would like to help with the
committee coordinating the refugee project. You
can also reply by email to mosesklein@gmail.com
Name: ________________________________
Address:
___________________________________________
____________________________________________
Phone: _____________________
Email: ______________________
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