Halifax crowdfunding effort to sponsor Syrians draws big numbers

A Nova Scotian group aiming to sponsor a refugee family says a crowdfunding effort to raise money has exceeded all expectations.

The non-profit Open Harbour Refugee Association has already received $7,000 in donations since launchingacrowdfundingpage onMonday.

The Halifax association, founded about six weeks ago, is hoping to raise $17,000.

"We're already more than a third of the way there towards bringing a family of four to Halifax," said co-chair Ben DuPlessis.

"It's great to see people taking such an interest in this. And I think it really shows that people actually care a lot about trying to help refugees. So if they see a clear chance to do it, then they take it."

The group expected it wouldtake about a year to raise the sponsorship fundsbased on some members'experiencessponsoring a Palestinian refugee family from Iraq.

"Last time they did it, it took a year for sureand it was much slowerand they got dribs and drabs here. So we had planned on that.I don't think any of us had any idea that within a week, we'd be so far along," he said.

Meanwhile Nova Scotia's 211 hotline is still being flooded with offers of help.

Executive director Mike Myette said the line received nearly 400 calls and emails on Wednesday, four times the daily average of 100 calls.

The 211 email is help@ns.211.ca