North

Yukon Cares dinner brings in more than $9K for Syrian refugees

Yukoners stepped up to the plate on Saturday evening, raising more than $9,000 to bring 10 Syrian refugees to the territory.

Organization is helping sponsor a family of 10 from Syria

Yukon businesses donated many items to the Yukon Cares silent auction on Saturday night - an event to raise money to bring 10 Syrian refugees to the territory. (Karen McColl/CBC)

Yukoners stepped up to the plate on Saturday evening, filling their bellies and emptying their wallets to raise money for refugees.

More than 200 people were fed on Saturday night at the Yukon Cares dinner and silent auction. (Karen McColl/CBC)

The Yukon Cares fundraiser sold out, with at least 250 people attending a dinner and silent auction at Porter Creek Secondary School. 

Yukon Cares is the organization helping sponsor a family of 10 from Syria.

Committee member Raquel de Queiroz says she was delighted with the turnout at the group's first fundraising event.

"Everybody was having so much fun and it was great," she said.

"It was heartwarming to see the room packed and to see the support that the community has for this cause. It's really encouraging."

De Queiroz says she doesn't have an exact figure on how much money was raised, but she says it is more than $9,000. 

Together with money matched from government, $80,000 is needed to sponsor a refugee family of 10 for their first year in the Yukon.  

One of the silent auction items was this painting by Halin de Repentigny. (Karen McColl/CBC)