Proudly serving the community of Essex and surrounding areas.
Vol. 136
A LOOK INSIDE Essex Council notes PAGE 3 _______________ Festival of Ice makes February nice PAGE 7 ________________ Today’s farming Special Feature PAGE 8 ________________ Respected historian at Olinda Church PAGE 11 ________________ Essex Firemen’s Association hosts Comedy night PAGE 13 ________________ Red Raider Rebound celebrates 25 years PAGE 24 ________________
Looking For A Good Home
“BAXTER” See Page 5 for adoption info.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Issue No. 6
Area United Churches welcome refugee family by Jennifer Cranston Early Saturday evening, around 50 representatives from the 24 United Churches of Windsor and Essex County gathered at the Windsor Airport to welcome the Alhamawi family. Fadia Mando, and her husband Abdul Alhamawi, and their four children; Inaya, 9, Zeina, 8, Fawaz, 6, and Adeeb, 2, arrived from Jordan to begin life in their new home of Windsor. Fadia’s aunt Helen Bazzi and her cousin Faye Bazzi were among their greeters at the airport. As the newcomers shared many hugs and kisses with their relatives, the United Church representatives sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” “I’m very excited. I can’t believe this is happening,” Faye said as she waited for the cousin she had never met to arrive with her family. “It is thanks to this wonderful organization.” Helen said she hadn’t seen her niece in around 22 years. Both women were very emotional as they waited. This family became refugees around four or five years ago when fighting came to their town
of Homs. They gathered what they could and fled to Jordan. Homs is now the subject of a viral YouTube video. It was one of the first villages hit and is completely devastated. Rev. Robin Sherman is the convener of the Essex Presbytery’s Faith in Action Committee. She explained that they received notice on the previous Monday that their family was on its way. The Alhamawi family is currently staying in a house donated by a congregation member in Tecumseh, until a more permanent home can be located. The home is in close proximity
to their aunt who lives in West Windsor. The congregation at Essex United Church donated $3,000 to this endeavour. The Presbytery is responsible to support the family for at least a year, in partnership with the Canadian Government. The support being offered is more than financial. Members of EUC said they are prepared to offer help with transportation needs and even babysitting when required. “But at the end of that year, we will not cut them lose,” EUC member Dwayne Horton said.
Doug Rounding of Essex volunteered to help with the refugee program and is happy that he has been able to help out. He will be helping to move the family into their permanent
home. He said his wife has already developed friendships with Helen and Faye and intends to foster those relationships.