Syrian refugee donation centre to reopen in Charlottetown

The Charlottetown donation centre to help Syrian refugeeswill be reopening on Saturdays, beginningthis Saturday, Jan. 23.

• P.E.I. Syrian refugees to receive hand-knitted mittens
• Refugee donation centre to open in Charlottetown Tuesday
• Syrian refugee donation centre taking stock

The centre opened on Dec.1 of last year and was quickly overwhelmed with mountains of donations. Itclosed temporarily in late December to allow staff and volunteers to sort through it all

Officials with the Welcome Project of the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada say with so many families arriving on the Island since early in the new year, the stock of some needed items is now getting low.

"The biggest outstanding items are furniture donations," saidHannah Jones,Welcome Project co-ordinator .

"Everything from sofas and chairs, end tables, dressersthat sort of thing that really get families established in their new home," said Jones.

She says the centre will only be open Saturdays, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., because the staff are extremely busy helping the new familiesarrivingin the area.

"The hardest part with that is that we don't offer a pick-up service," Jones noted. "So it is for drop-off only at our donation centre."

Jones is asking people to go to the Welcome Projectwebsite to get a full list of needed items or to make a monetary donation at www.peianc.com.

There are some items the centre does notaccept:clothing, mattresses, food and large appliances.

The centre helps both government-sponsored andprivately-sponsored refugees.

The centre is at 1 Queen Street, which is the old Coast Guard warehouse across from the Delta Hotel.