No quick, easy way for ordinary Canadians to sponsor refugees: Mennonite Central Committee
Time and money are elements
Elaine Harder knows all about refugees.
Harder is the refugee program co-ordinator for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).
Like many Canadians, she was horrified by the image of the young Syrian boy who washed up dead on a beach. She said the MCC is fielding numerous calls from people who want to help.
Unfortunately, she said it's not an easy process.
"It's not just a simple matter of putting in a piece of paper and then a few months later something happens," she said in an interview with Saskatoon Morning host Leisha Grebinski.
"It's a matter of putting the application in and waiting, and waiting and waiting for it to be processed."
MCC helps organize sponsorship groups, as a ways to spread around the financial and emotional responsibility. She said, ideally, they like at least five individuals in a group to help with the commitment.
The responsibilities are numerous, she said. The MCC wants a commitment of one year, beginning with meeting a family at the airport.
She said, on average, it costs about $32,000 to sponsor a family of four.