Syrian refugee family of 7 to arrive in Halifax New Year's Day

Children's snowsuits, a sled and a shovel are in place in a Clayton Park apartment, ready to help a Syrian refugee family ease into winter in their new home.

The Timberlea Baptist Church is sponsoring a family of seven that is expected to land in Halifax Friday morning, one of four scheduled to arrive in the province on New Year's Day.

A committee of volunteers from the church and nearby community started preparing for the family's arrival in September, but the group received just three days notice that they would be touching down this week.

Amid the holidays, it was a scramble to get everything in order on time.

"It's been a little bit chaotic with just a couple days notice, but we kind of anticipated a short notice and we've been working on the apartment for a couple of weeks now," said Louise Knowles, associate pastor at the church.

The Syrian family's five children range in age from four to 12, with a new baby on the way.

Knowles says they were matched as a sponsor because one of young boys has a heart condition that requires him to live close to a children's hospital.

Since receiving word in the fall that their sponsorship application was successful,Knowles says money has poured in from church members and people in the community. One corporate sponsor offered to match donations until the end of the year. In all, they've raised about $30,000.

"Even in the past six to eight weeks, we've just sensed a real increase in support and we're seen it in financial donations, I've had neighbours come and drop off cheques just to help us out. We've raised the money very, very quickly," she said.

The committee also collected donated furniture and picked up assorted supplies from the donation depot in Bayers Lake.

Discounted rent, donated furniture

The building's landlord has offered a discount on rent and volunteers arranged for everything from cleaning supplies to a stocked kitchen.

Wednesday volunteers set up the bunk beds and arranged books, school supplies and teddy bears in the children's rooms.

"We don't know a lot about them but we're excited. Hopefully we've set up a nice, warm friendly place for them to come. We're looking forward to them being here," said Linda Crilley, one of the volunteers.

"We have a good team, some people speak Arabic, and we're going to work with them and hopefully they'll feel really comfortable."

How involved the sponsor group will be in the new Canadians lives will depend on the family's wishes, Knowles says. Theirpeople are prepared to lend a hand as parents find work and the children start school, she says.

"We're happy to do whatever they need," Knowles said. "We just want them to be in a place that's safe. If they want to be a part of the community, whatever help we can help lend in the future we're prepared to do."