Two Syrian families will be coming to Portage la Prairie. The Portage and Area Refugee Coalition has confirmed two families of five will be moving to the city at some point this year, with the coalition and federal government sharing the sponsorship costs. The two couples have three children each, between ages four and 15, originate from Homs, Syria, but have been living in a refugee camp in Lebanon. Auna-Marie Brown's with the coalition and says they were thrilled to receive the confirmation, but now it's time to get back to work.

"This means we'll be moving forward with housing, donations of furniture, household goods would be much appreciated, and we'll be talking to the community to ask for their time, talents, and donations."

The coalition meets Thursday at the Trinity United Church at 7:30, where they'll start to discuss their next steps for housing and employment. While they had a committee dedicated to looking at housing options, Brown says it was difficult to look for homes before they knew the size and ages of the families coming to the city. They've already started to seek some donations, focusing on clothing, furniture, household items and anything else required to accommodate the two families. However, Brown says they'll also need some individuals to donate their time, to help the families' transition.

"We're going to be reaching out to the community to see if they can donate, or if they have some time. If you have a few hours on a Wednesday afternoon, would you feel you could come and drive one of the family members to an appointment, or if you have time to go out and have a coffee with these people, or tutor a child to learn English. Time and talent besides donations are going to be incredibly helpful."

She admits even those unable to assist through donations of time or funding can still ensure an easy transition. She says many of the refugees coming to Canada have experienced variable levels of trauma in their home cities, and wants to ensure everyone in Portage is ready to welcome our new neighbours.

"The first thing is to welcome them with friendly Manitoba, and provide whatever support they need to get them accustomed to our community. Just think of getting off a plane and it being 25 below, even just that, is itself going to be a challenge."

Brown feels while our community aims to provide the families with the support they need, the families can also teach the community about a different culture. They've started collecting donations to accommodate the family, with larger items, such as beds, furniture, or other items being accepted at the Portage Mall, while smaller items can be donated to the Trinity United Church.