Henny Drope has watched with pride over the years as refugee families she's helped start to thrive in Canada.
Drope received the YMCA's Sarnia and area Peace Award during a special ceremony Wednesday.
"I first became involved 25 years ago," said Drope. "I volunteered to be on the refugee committee for Christian Reformed Churches in the area, at that point they were sponsoring a family from Serbia. So, that was my first experience, helping to settle them, helping them to register for all of the government documents that needed to be filled out, finding furniture and an apartment and everything else."
Drope has since been directly involved in the sponsorship and day-to-day settlement of more than a dozen families.
"Some from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Columbia too. I'm just encouraged when I hear about the family and what they've been through. They deserve a new chance to live free in a great country like Canada," she said.
Drope has developed a special bond with many of the families and has even been invited to family events.
"One family, I've seen their boys grow up," she said. "One got married and they have two little children now, we went to the wedding and they're all doing well. It's nice to see. Especially the children who come here for a chance to make it, whereas, in their other country, they would not have had that opportunity."
The peace medal is presented during Peace Week to an individual, group or youth who demonstrates a commitment to building peace in their community.
YMCA Sarnia and area Peace Award. November 20, 2019 Photo by Melanie Irwin