Donations pour in for Syrian refugee family coming to Troy

TROY, Mich. - An emotional story on social media about a refugee - a man who lost members of his family in Syria and is now moving to Troy.

People in the area are preparing to roll out the welcome mat to him and others from the war-torn region.

It is the profound photos and wholehearted words that have mesmerized millions to embrace this man and his family. They are Syrian refugees  escaping to Turkey in a heart-wrenching story of loss, of suffering and of survival.

"I really can't comprehend the trauma that his entire family had to go through," said Daniel Kang, a University of Michigan student. Kang started a GoFundMe page for the family.

The seven-part Facebook post on the Humans of New York page chronicles the man who describes himself as a scientist, and who not only lost his home, but his wife, his daughter and other family members.

His story captured the attention of President Barack Obama, who wrote that he welcomed the man and his surviving son and daughter to Troy, Michigan. That is where Kang, a 20-year-old studying computer science is from.

He felt compelled to help.

"There's really no such thing as fair, but I would like to give him a head start in his new life," Kang said.

He created the page just two days ago and the donations went from zero to $10,000 in just a day.  By Friday it was over $13,000 raised. Kang says the folks with Humans of New York have been in touch, along with local Lutheran Social Services Centers.

"I'm really honored," Kang said. "I think that Troy is the best place he could have come to."

Unable to release much information, officials with Lutheran Social Services here in Detroit say the Syrian refugee and his family will be arriving near the end of next week.

Sean Defour, Lutheran Social Services VP of children and families said although he can't speak much of this case, he's previously discussed the strict and meticulous process for refugees coming to America.

"They go through a Home Land Security review," he said. "A State Department review, an FBI review, you name it. Just about every federal agency."

Defour says the resettlement process is lengthy. It can take 18 months, even up to 36 months for many Syrian refugees to come to America.

"They are the most rigorously screened population in the US," Defour said.

And while this man's journey to Troy has received mixed reactions, Defour says he's inspired by this man's story of survival, who writes that his ultimate goal is to "make a lasting contribution to humanity."

Kang believes he already has.

"I'd really like to talk to him," Kang said. "And get a good grasp about what he's doing or what ideas he has."

If you would like to donate CLICK HERE for the GoFundMe page.