Syrian refugees' home shown off in Summerside

A house in Summersidewill soon be a home to a family of six Syrian refugees.

The community group, Syria to Summerside,that is sponsoring the family held an open house to showcase what was accomplished.

Rev. Arthur Davies is one of the ministerswith Trinity United Church, thechurch thatstarted the sponsorship process.About 50 volunteers from acrossSummersidestepped up to help, raising money and getting the house ready.

"We look at this as a community effort and therefore the community has a sense of ownership, and so to come and say look what we did as a community," said Davies.

More than $50,000 was raised to help thefamily and at least two others.

All the items in the rented house from handmade quilts to new carpetwere donated. Flooring and installationto finish the basement was donated by a contractor.

"It's all lovely,new and fresh and clean and sweet smelling," said visitor Grace Sweatman.

"The beautiful spirit they've created, you can feel it when you walk in."

Others planning to sponsor a refugee familyvisited the house as a learning experience. Percy Affleck is part of a group that wants to bring a family to Bedeque.

"When you first get into this project you find people of the mind set out in the community that anything will do, but the reality is that's not the case," said Affleck.

"The quality of the dwelling and the furniture it has to meet certain minimum standards."

The committee does not know theexact date of when the family will arrive but say they have been toldto be ready to move at short notice.