Despite a pause being placed on Syrian refugees coming to Saint John, there’s still a focus on getting them settled. 

Reverend Wayne Murphy is organizing the few items left at a collection centre in the Port City for newcomers.

"We're not taking our regular Saturday donation days, but we are still taking donations of certain things,” said Murphy. “Things that we know there are families still don't have, like dressers, we still have families living out of boxes and suitcases."

Until recently, Saint John was one of the few places in the Maritimes still welcoming refugees. There are currently 427 in the city.

"It seems that now that the government has achieved their 25,000 target that it has slowed a bit,” said YMCA president Shilo Boucher. “All the folks in Fredericton, because they had changed the process, have now been moved out of that hotel, and so that was the last probably two weeks ago is the last time we received some families."

With the majority of Syrian refugees in the region, those who helped welcome them are trying to make them feel at home.

"They are now starting English language classes, some of them are still going through the assessment phase, and their kids are getting in school which is great and the other children who are younger are in child care," said Boucher.

Out of the 80 families, Boucher says there are around 160 adults who need to be put into classes.

"First you have to assess where their language skill is to make sure we get them in the right class and then just hiring teachers, and finding space to make it all happen," said Boucher.

Murphy says around 90 families have come through the donation centre, and it wouldn't have been possible without help from the community.

"I can't even describe how wonderful the city has been in this,” he said. “We've had little kids bring in their toys in to give away, we've had seniors coming in giving away things.”

The collection centre will slow down operations, but Murphy says if more refugees come to the city, they'll be ready to welcome them.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ashley Blackford.