Since November, Ottawa has welcomed hundreds of Syrian refugee families fleeing a desperate situation.
To help them adapt to their new life in their new country, community members are coming to together to provide welcome boxes.
New to Canada, the Dawod family is getting ready to move into a new home, after three weeks in a downtown hotel.
Using a translator the father, Mahmoud Dawod, told CTV “Syria is in shambles, to be away from that scene, I just want to thank Canadians.”
There are more than 700 Syrian refugees living in Ottawa. Hundreds are in hotels across the city – awaiting permanent housing.
The Dawod family said it is difficult to liv in such a small space, but that is it much better than where they are coming from.
To make the transition from the hotel into their new home easier, a group of volunteers are donating a welcome box, filled with basic necessities. They include things like health care products, warm weather items, things for cooking, and cleaning.
“There’s a lot community member can do across the country to help welcome our new neighbours,” said Renée Taylor, President of Welcome Box Inc.
The Dawod family said they fled to Ottawa with just a few suitcases, and called the gifts ‘overwhelming’.
Mahmoud said he has heard of Canada’s generosity all over the world, but said the people in Ottawa well surpassed his expectations.
