L-R: Ulrike Rockenbauer, Judith Bauer, Nancy Curleigh of Parrsboro Welcomes Refugees with main mast cutout from schooner Katie Belle

Parrsboro Welcomes Refugees is hoping to bring its first family here by the end of February.

During a public meeting this afternoon at the Old Post Office (Main & Station), the group reported that it has already raised about $15,000, enough to bring one refugee family to Parrsboro.

However, organizers are hoping to raise $27,000 by the end of the year.

“We’re not stopping at just one family,” Judith Bauer told the meeting. “We’d be happy to have two families here.”

She added that the second family could be in Parrsboro by the end of May.

Online auction

As part of its fundraising, Parrsboro Welcomes Refugees is holding an online auction through its Facebook page where contributors can bid on various items including the main mast cutout from the Katie Belle signed by the schooner’s builders, Nick and Evan Densmore.

Other items include paintings, hand-made crafts and jewellery.

The auction closes at midnight on December 22nd.

Parrsboro Welcomes Refugees has also launched an online appeal where people can make financial contributions.

During today’s meeting, the group thanked Lori Lynch and David Beattie, proprietors of the Black Rock Bistro, for hosting a spaghetti dinner on Saturday that raised $1,340. They also thanked the Trinity United Church for its donation of $1,000.

“Our hearts have really reached out to welcome a new family here,” said organizer Nancy Curleigh. “The momentum is building faster than we expected.”