Humanist Refugee Resettlement Project - Donations

Dear HAT members and supporters, Letter from Moses Klein:  (THIS IS A STICKY POST)

I am writing this as we are all coming to grips with the horror, the tragedy and the senselessness of the Paris attacks. Beyond the shock of November 13^th, I have been struck with the vast range of responses, from the inspiring example of the Parisians who opened their doors to strangers, to the disturbing hate crimes committed in many countries around the world, including at least one instance in Toronto.  Many of the victims of these hate crimes are themselves refugees fleeing ISIS. As humanists, I hope you agree it is the hospitable Parisians who ought to be emulated.

With that in mind, I am inviting you to support the Humanist Association of Toronto in its latest project. We are working in partnership with Oraynu (the Jewish secular humanist organization) and possibly other allied organizations seeking to sponsor a Syrian refugee family to come to Canada. This was a plan we were already discussing before this month’s attacks, but it seems ever more important now to demonstrate that our society is a generous and welcoming one. The success of this project depends on your help, in two important ways.

Financial assistance: Sponsoring organizations need to raise the equivalent of one year of welfare before the sponsorship can proceed. At our October 2015 steering committee meeting, HAT committed to raise $9000, which would be 1/3 of the required amount for a family of four.

Settlement assistance: After our refugee family has arrived, they may still need assistance in other forms. Can you volunteer to help find an apartment, take them on errands, translate for them (if their English is inadequate), etc.? Would you have old clothes or furniture to donate? This is in the future, but we would like to compile a list of people to call on.

If you would like to help this effort in any way, please fill out the form on the next page and mail it to

Humanist Association of Toronto

PO Box 68559

360A Bloor St. W.

Toronto, ON   M5S 1X1

You can also reply through email.

Thanks for your support,

Moses Klein (for the HAT steering committee

I want to help HAT settle a refugee family in Toronto

[  ]          I am helping out financially. Here is my tax-deductible cheque for ____________ payable to Humanist Association of Toronto. (Please write “refugee” on the memo line.) You can also send an Interac transfer to HATTreasurer@gmail.com, or by Paypal at  http://tinyurl.com/oys5vgg .

[  ]          I can help with settlement by ______________________________________________________.

(Please describe what you can offer.) You can also reply by email to mosesklein@gmail.com

[  ]          I would like to help with the committee coordinating the refugee project. You can also reply by email to mosesklein@gmail.com

Name: ________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________

               ____________________________________________

Phone: _____________________

Email: ______________________