A recent cultural culinary event and silent auction raised more than $8,000 to support the work of Stratford Welcomes Refugees.
Hosted by The Avocado culinary program at Stratford District Secondary School, 60 participants enjoyed a Middle Eastern meal, providing funds to help sponsorship groups as they work with the Mennonite Central Committee to settle refugee families in Stratford, per a news release from Stratford Welcomes Refugees.
The fundraiser was presented with assistance from teacher Andrew Mavor, and Madiha Hmidi, who moved with her family to the area from Syria via Egypt in 2017.
The Avocado is the culinary specialist high skills major program at SDSS.
Stratford Welcomes Refugees is further on its way to having enough money to support another sponsorship group. About $24,000 has to be raised for a family of four, with the remaining money coming from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Families supported are screened and approved by United Nations and the Canadian government and benefit from the support of their sponsorship group.
For more information about Stratford Welcomes Refugees and sponsorship teams, visit the website.
