As part of Operation Air Support, Trillium United Church hosted a Family Fall Fun Fair on Saturday, September 30th as a fund raiser for the Makila refugee family.
Having arrived in Canada to escape the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the family finds itself owing $11,000 to the Canadian government as repayment for the cost of their airfare. The loan is interest-free for only 3 years but is a sizeable burden for a family in a new land trying to find its bearings and establish their new lives.
As a result, Trillium United Church has committed to helping bring the local community together to raise funds for Operation Air Support and in this case, through a Family Fall Fund Fair organized by the Social Concerns and Outreach Committee. Liz Reed, a Co-Chair of SC&O gives us a brief tour of the activities and events of the day including Hand Drumming clinics, Belly Dancing lessons, arts, crafts, games, face painting, the Science Lady, the Balloon Guy and even a visit by local MP, Kathryn McGarry.
And in typical Canadian fashion, there were butter tarts!