REGINA – The Fat Badger pub on Scarth Street downtown is hoping to help Syrian refugees before they even set foot in the Queen City.
Naill O’Hanlon, the pub’s owner, said he had a bunch of items he wanted to donate to the refugees, but didn’t know how to.
“We quickly realized we have nowhere to donate to help the refugees that are coming to Regina in the next month or so,” he said.
The Fat Badger has a large basement for storage that O’Hanlon is clearing out for donations of furniture, non-perishable food, clothing and toiletries. “We’re accepting donations as a holding service for when the government has a facility to accept these. Then we’ll be ready to go.”
O’Hanlon added it’s important to consider how little these refugees will come to Saskatchewan with.
“They pretty much just have the shirts on their back. So even if you’re not using something, you might not think it’s worth something to you, but it could be worth something to somebody else.”
Since putting out a request for donations, O’Hanlon’s Facebook status has been shared over 900 times and offers for things like couches, dinner table sets and clothing have been pouring in.
“People in Regina, even though some people don’t agree with the refugees coming, they’re very welcoming still. We realize they’re coming. You’ve got to help, these people have nothing. It’s actually a good thing,” he said.
Items can be dropped off at The Fat Badger between 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. each day while pickup can be arranged for larger items.