Volunteers flood Sask. refugee group with offers of help

The Open Door Society in Saskatoon normally has about 300 volunteers a year. But in the last few days it has received between 400 and 500 emails from people wanting to volunteer.

"Normally we have about 300 volunteers a year. From September to December we probably put through 20 volunteers per month," Julie Fleming Juarez, community connections team lead with the Open Door Society, said.

"Right now we're having about 180 people coming through information sessions in just three weeks so it's really, really busy."

Fleming Juarez said there is a large portion of the population that wants to welcome refugees.

"It always does your heart good to see people believing in the same cause and wanting to reach out, especially to refugees. It's wonderful, it's great. I love Saskatoon [and] Prairie hospitality."

More orientation sessions to meet demand

Fleming Juarez said there will be more information sessions than usual in the coming weeks. 

"We may decide to have a very, very large information session. We have about 190 people on the waiting list to volunteer and I haven't checked my email yet today."

The orientation sessions are the first step for prospective volunteers. They learn about the opportunities available and more details about the people they're assisting. But before becoming a volunteer, people have to go through the application and screening process. They also go through training. 

Several people who are looking to help attended an orientation session Wednesday night in Saskatoon.

Tammy Gebhardt said she was motivated by a backlash to refugees she was seeing on social media.

"Facebook had notorious stuff happening ... just trashing people and I was tired of it and I was like, 'You know, I'm just going to do something,'" Gebhardt said. "If people need help, who are going to come into our country, I might as well get out of my bubble and come and be a part of it."

She said she is wiling to help where needed.

Will Brooks is also looking to become a volunteer.

"It started for me as a process of just hearing things on the news, like many other people, and not being sure what I could do to make this happen," Brooks said. He volunteers in other ways in his community but this is the first time he's offered to volunteer with refugees. 

Julia Price said she has been watching events unfold in the Middle East for a long time.

"A lot of people feel really helpless to do anything," she said. "This is an opportunity to actually step up and do something for the people who have suffered so much."

Price said she's interested in helping with English language skills.