LETHBRIDGE – As soon as Bill and Joan Ginther learned about the Syrian refuge crisis, they immediately wanted to help.
It started with gathering furniture donations for immigrants moving to Lethbridge and, most recently, they decided to travel to Macedonia to volunteer for 10 days at the Tabanovce refugee camp.
“The first day we were overwhelmed, absolutely overwhelmed,” Bill said. “We just said, ‘how can people live like this?’ It’s absolutely cruel.”
The Ginthers were shocked by the conditions they encountered at the refugee camp.
“It breaks your heart,” Joan said.
“The amount of suffering we’ve seen has been almost beyond our comprehension, even having been there,” Bill added.
The couple soon learned there was a bigger calling for them – beyond supplying food at the camp.
“They said, ‘share our story with the Canadian people. Let Canada know who we are and what has happened to us.’”
The couple plans to tell the story of the refugees they met to as many people as they can. Next week they’ll be speaking to their granddaughter’s Grade 3 class about the Syrian refugee crisis.
“If we can become a voice and if we can become a bit of a catalyst for some kind of change, we want to do that,” Bill said.
The Ginthers have already been invited to return to Macedonia but they say their focus for the time being is working on sponsoring four refugees they befriended in the camp.
“We can’t help everyone,” Bill said, “but, we’re going to focus on these individuals and see if we can provide safety for them.”
The Ginthers say they’re just getting started with their mission and hope they can bring awareness to what is happening to thousands of refugees on a daily basis.
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