Club Donates TVs to Oswestry's Syrian Refugee Families

Oswestry is rallying to help refugees settle in for the past few weeks, five refugee families have been settling into town life and enjoying what Oswestry has to offer.

Months of planning came to a head last month when the Oswestry Welcomes Refugees group finally greeted the families fleeing Syria. "The families who have young children, seem to be enjoying their new beginnings and appreciating our wonderful town,” said Jools Payne who led the campaign, “But there is a long journey ahead and their joy is tempered, of course, by the sadness of family separation, loss and trauma. We cannot lose sight of that.”

Now the families have established themselves in their new homes, Jools is calling on the public to play their part. She continued: “We know you have been desperate to help and the time is now right when you can play your part in helping each of them successfully integrate into the local community.”

The Rotary Club of Oswestry showed their support by buying and delivering five brand-new TV sets, one for each family. “It was such a joy to see their delight and gratitude, knowing the TVs will have an immediate positive impact on their happiness,” she said. “Four of the five families have very young children to occupy. As all of us who have had little ones will know, a TV can be a sanity saver.”

CHALK CIC has donated furniture, clothing and household goods, and even taught the Syrian women how to sew tote bags to sell in-store.

Jools added: “They are already giving back to the community that has embraced them with warmth, compassion and much-needed love and care.”

Oswestry Advertizer 23rd August 2016

Photographs by ©Stonehouse Photographic/Refugee Action