Congolese man, 18 year old Julius 'Jules' Lunanga was swimming in the Murray River at Albury's Noreuil Park when he went underwater, but didn't resurface.

Pastor Kalwindi Mbele and two others set up the fundraiser to provide money for the family while they were grieving.

Mr Mbele said the Lunanga family was in financial hardship and Julius had been the sole income earner.

"No money can replace the loss of Julius," he said.

"After Julius's death the whole family is now in the time of mourning and they are desperate, they're asking what next, who will be helping us."

Mr Mbele asked the Border community to sympathise with the family and to support them.

He said many people from the Border Congolese community were currently working in Tumbarumba or Shepparton picking fruit, but the Lunanga family was in too much grief.

"As they are searching for the body, they're praying in the house," he said.

"No one has the strength to come out and go somewhere to pick fruit."

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Less than 24 hours after the GoFundMe was started, more than 100 people had donated to the cause with over $9000 raised.

The funds raised will go to the family to cover living expenses, food, rent, bills and provide the space for the family to process and grieve this enormous loss.

Mr Mbele said he hoped to raise $30,000.

He said the loss was made harder after the death of Julius's grandmother, Beatrice Malilwa, earlier this year.

"The family at this particular time is actually devastated by the loss of their grandmother who in their memories is still fresh," he said.

"We had to hold a memorial service on the 11th of December this year after she was able to be left 40 days according to our Congolese culture.

"And Julius was there, he was alive, in fact he was helping me, connecting the PA, because this boy is very, was very talented.

"So this Saturday when I heard that Julius had drowned in the Murray River I was devastated."

An emergency services leader Paul Marshall and Albury councillor David Thurley have supported installing signs in different languages to alert migrant and ethnic communities to the dangers of swimming in the Murray River.

Mr Mbele said warning signs in multiple languages would be helpful, but more water safety training was also needed in migrant communities.

"We need people to be trained how to help themselves in the water, safety in the water," he said.

"Because we have couple of people with life guard certificates and they can train others to swim, so if we can have workshops and training this can help."

To donate search for 'help grieving family' on the GoFundMe website.

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