Hundreds of handmade pieces of clothing were handed out to Syrian refugees living in Fredericton on Friday.
A reception was held where volunteers had the opportunity to meet the families they’ve been working so hard to help resettle. The generosity throughout the day was enough to bring Lisa Bamford de Gante of the Fredericton Multicultural Association to tears.
"It feels like our community has, and the country, has just become awake around refugees,” she said. “That we really understand as a community that we need to be present, we need to be aware, and we need to share the resources that we have."
About 15 families attended the reception, but the number of Syrian families coming to the Maritimes is growing quickly.
By Sunday, almost 500 Syrians will have landed in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and about 80 on Prince Edward Island.
Mother and daughter volunteer duo Amy and Kitty Bourne are supporting a family of six. They say the language barrier poses a challenge, but the experience is incredible.
"It's changing my life, it really is,” said Amy Bourne. “We're so lucky.”
“I think the most emotional was to see them land with so few belongings," said Kitty Bourne.
The New Brunswick government is holding firm on its goal of settling 1,500 Syrian refugees.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown.
