STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the borough now housing about 300 asylum seekers -- many of whom recently arrived in this country with nothing but the clothing on their backs -- there is a great need for donations of clothing, food and daily essentials to help them get on their feet in this country.
As New York City works to assist migrants in a situation that Mayor Eric Adams recently called a “humanitarian crisis,” various Staten Island organizations are offering ways borough residents can help.
Since May, New York City has seen thousands of migrants -- who are part of the legal asylum-seeking process -- flock to the city in droves, and Adams said the total could climb as high as 75,000.
The city opened two emergency shelters in Travis hotels – the Comfort Inn, located at 310 Wild Ave., and the Holiday Inn Express, located at 300 Wild Ave. – to help deal with the ongoing strain on the city’s homeless shelter system where thousands of migrants have increased the population by about 30% since April.
As of Oct. 12, approximately 4% of asylum seekers receiving shelter services citywide are receiving those services on Staten Island.
NEW SOUTH SHORE DROP OFF CENTER TO OPEN
A new drop off center for donations is opening on Saturdays at St. Clare’s Parish Chapel, 110 Nelson Ave., Great Kills on Oct. 22. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. each Saturday donations will be collected of only new items including: clothes; underwear; socks; jackets for men (sizes medium and large); women (medium and large) and in all children’s sizes.
NORTH SHORE SITES
Central Family Life Center at 59 Wright St. has extended its hours to collect new clothes and toiletries from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This Mayor’s Office designated site is collecting new clothes only; toiletries; baby items, such as diapers; and non-perishable ready to eat foods, including nutrition bars, raisins, dried fruit, jelly, individual cereal, 8 ounce shelf stable milk and juice.
The Central Family Life Center number for donations is: (718) 273-8414.
Project Hospitality is currently providing emergency social service support to the hotel asylees inside the Travis hotels. To volunteer, make additional donations, monetary, food, clothing, toiletries call: 347-884-0486.
El Centro del Inmigrante -- the Staten Island Immigrant Center & Council, which has spearheaded a growing coalition of local groups to help the newly arrived asylees -- is collecting Metrocards, prepaid phone cards and laundry card in addition to other donations. The center is located at 260 Port Richmond Ave., Port Richmond.
El Centro offers free assistance with personal documents, orientation to Staten Island and workforce development training. The organization has set up a hotline for people interested in hiring a worker who received training through the organization. El Centro can be reached at (347) 825-2086.
La Colmena, a community-based organization that works with day laborers, domestic workers and other low-wage immigrant workers on Staten Island, is accepting donations to help the incoming migrant population.
Those who are interested in helping La Colmena provide resources to new asylum seekers can donate at https://www.lacolmenanyc.org/donate. In addition, residents can contact La Colmena if they are interested in hiring a worker who received training through the organization.
“As La Colmena, supporting new arrival immigrants, is nothing new to our organization, as we have been doing this for years, and for the last couple of months La Colmena has been supporting new arrival immigrants with workforce development,” said Yesenia Mata, executive director. “The stories that we hear from new arrival immigrants is that they are here to work to support their families, but also to contribute to society.”
Many other Island-based organizations have joined the Staten Island Committee for Asylee Aid launched El Centro. These groups include: Progressive Parent’s of Staten Island; Urban Fairies of Staten Island; World of Women; Episcopal Inter Parish Council; the United Methodist Churches of Staten Island; Forefront Church; Council of Jewish Organizations; Temple Israel, Catholic Charities; Staten Island Church of Christ; Bait Ul Jamaal House of Community; UAU; SI Partnership for Community Wellness.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
