On Friday night, community members gathered for an evening of Middle Eastern and western food and music to raise money to join a Syrian family back together again.

The Al Omar Family Came to Canada back in 2016 thanks to The Lacombe Community Refugee Effort committee and now they are hoping to bring the rest of their family back together.

Marlene Ironside is part of the committee and she says with the help of this event they are hoping to bring another family member and her two kids to the country as well.

“Were trying to bring her sister and two kids, it seems like we brought the community all together when we did that the first time, then we kind of floated along because there wasn’t a whole lot going for us and now she has just received notice to do her interview which is like the second last step before she actually gets to come here.”

They raised just about 4 thousand dollars and had more than 140 people at the event on Friday.

Ironside says she believes the family is incredibly talented and thankful for the support.

“They have been like magnets for people, they are a great family.”

The committee also helps the family with things like organizing and attending appointments, babysitting when necessary, friendly support and engagements, as well as more pressing matters such as health and dental needs and childcare organization.