HALIFAX – A centre set up to help refugees in Halifax will soon stop accepting donations due to what the government is calling “the overwhelming generosity” of Nova Scotians.
The Refugee Donations Drop-off Centre opened earlier in December and was set to accept donations until the end of January. Immigration Minister Lena Diab said in a news release Wednesday that the deadline is now Jan. 5.
“The response has been so tremendous that we have more than enough to meet the needs of the incoming refugees,” she said. “Refugees and their sponsors will access the donated items at the centre over the next few months.”
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As of last week, more than 5,000 bags of clothes, hundreds of toys, kitchen supplies and entire furniture sets had been received at the centre.
The government is still asking people to donate items including winter jackets and boots, sweaters, mittens, baby gear along with personal hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste and shampoo.
Diab added that any donations above and beyond what the refugees need will be shared with other organizations supporting disadvantaged people in Nova Scotia.
The province also announced the 211 phone line will no longer take calls offering support for refugees, but will continue accepting calls offering assistance to Nova Scotians in need.
The centre is located in the former Rona store on Horseshoe Lake Drive in Bayers Lake. The final window for donations will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
With files from Dave Squires, Global News
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