The Band with No Name had the Humboldt Legion rocking with the music of Tom Petty for the Humboldt and Area Refugee Coalition fundraiser on Nov. 17.
Erin Ruel with the Coalition says the year long contact with the Syrian family is nearly up so fundraising has started for the next family the Coalition will be looking to sponsor.
The support for the family and the Coalition has been great with the family doing very well.
“It’s gone really well, better than I even hoped in the beginning. It’s been really nice to see the community come together to support them however they can.”
With such a great group working with the family and a lot of support from the community, the transition for the family should be smooth as they move towards being independent of the Coalition.
While they have learned a lot from their first sponsorship, every family is different, says Ruel, so they know that the next family they sponsor to come to Humboldt will come with their own challenges.
“Every family is unique and their circumstances are unique so I guess we’ll see. Someday, hopefully, we’ll be able to say we’re really experienced and we’ve done this a lot.”
This was a cause Brian Grest from the nameless band wanted to support along with fellow band members Tim Thibault, Dan Orescanin, Jay Salikin, and Terry Levitt.
“I believe in kindness and dignity,” says Grest, “I believe that, as a Canadian, we are a giving culture, a giving society. This is a way to show that we’re giving by giving to people in need.”
With Petty’s unexpected death in October, celebrating the music of someone who is well loved, especially by members of the band, seemed fitting, says Grest.
From the members of the band to people who were volunteering to people who volunteered, Ruel says they are grateful for all the support they have received.
