'We can relate very much': Syrians in St. John's pitch in for Fort McMurray campaign

The outpouring of support for displaced Fort McMurrayresidents isn't limited to just those who have long-standingconnections to the northern Alberta community.

On Thursday, several newly arrived families from Syria came to a CBC live broadcastto show support and pass along some money they had raised for the cause to the Red Cross.

Sixteen Syrians came tothe St. John's Morning Show event just outside the CBC building on University Avenueto help pitch in,including nine children who collected change at their schools to send to the fire-ravaged community.

Ibrahim Al Salloum, who spoke through the use of aninterpreter, said seeing the destroyed homes and desperate people reminded him of the destructionthey fled in war-torn Syria and inspired them to give back.

"We can relate very much with what the people of Fort McMurray are going through because we have been through something similar over the last number of years," he said through the interpreter.

"We have lost everything, we've had toevacuate our homes, our homes were bombed and we lost everything in fires as well.So we can feel very tangibly what they must be going through."

In addition to raising money,AlSalloum's interpreter Alaenatold CBC that many Syrians in the communityhave offered to actually travel to the Fort McMurray area to help out if they are needed.

"They're able to help financially in an very limited way, because they have little money to offer," she said. "But they are all very eager to volunteer their services with the rebuilding and cleaning up."

"Anything they can do they are very eager to help."

The CanadianRed Cross said itraised just over $3,000 during live broadcasts Thursday oftheSt. John's Morning Show and Crosstalk.