In September last year, Wellington’s Anglican and Catholic Bishops asked the Red Cross how they could help the Syrian refugees coming to New Zealand.
They were asked to kit out homes, and people have been giving from right across the region.
So far religious groups in the lower North Island have gathered household supplies for the first 95 Syrian refugees to settle in Wellington.
Preparing homes for the refugees has been a partnership between government agencies, religious and volunteer organisations.
The government refugee resettlement programme has been responsible for providing 25 homes as well as furniture for each family.
All other household items are being provided by the Anglican and Catholic churches who are taking responsibility for setting up 10 homes respectively.
The New Zealand Islamic Centre is catering for the final five homes.
The Red Cross will assign volunteers to each family so as to provide ongoing support as they settle.
This month’s refugee intake is the first of several, and Anglican Bishop Duckworth said they were already preparing for the next one in April.
Duckworth said that generosity extended well beyond the church.
Watch interview with Bishop Justin Duckworth.
He said he had heard stories of people going into shops looking for items like rice cookers and the shops selling the items at cost when hearing about who they were for.
“It’s not just the churches and the Islamic centre – it’s actually everyday New Zealanders and small businesses saying we want to get behind and say refugees, you are welcome.”
Duckworth said, “The question is not the inconvenience it is for us.
The question is what will happen if we don’t do this?
What will happen to the refugees who don’t get to come here?
For us, to double the quota is just saying we would like to see… 1500 [refugees] a year because for those extra 750 that’ll make a huge difference.”
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