The weekly giveaway of food and supplies outside Holy Cross Church in Kingston has been crucial to the growing population of Central American immigrants in the city’s Midtown neighborhood.

At their most recent giveaway, event volunteers with the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network (UIDN) said that during the COVID-19 crisis, many families considered this event to be their one chance each week to seek important services, though other organizations have also been doing similar outreach work.

Now that many COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the UIDN is offering personal assistance several days each week, including Saturdays.

What You Need To Know

  • With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, volunteers with one immigrant rights group are now more easily able to connect local families with services

  • Since the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network (UIDN) is offering more time and services, they now need more volunteers

  • Organizers of Wednesday’s event said they have been holding steady at about 120 families served each week at the giveaway, but added that each week, they meet a few new families who have just arrived in Kingston

“We do this on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m., but some families are back working and those hours don’t work for them,” one volunteer said. “They can come during these hours, as well, and pick up food from the food pantry.”

Families can also seek help through the UIDN with rent, utility bills, mental health needs, finding activities for their children, legal services and transportation to check-in appointments with officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the agency’s New York City offices.

“Everything was done by telephone and text message prior,” UIDN volunteer Leslie Gallagher said in explaining the nonprofit’s operations during the lockdown. “Now, they can get more complete services by having a one-on-one.”

Since the UIDN is offering more time and services, they now need more volunteers.

Example: Dante Slotnick recently learned from his grandmother about the influx of Central American families into the city and felt the need to get involved.

“I’m from Queens, where I’m surrounded by a lot of people who are Hispanic, and they really help enrich culture,” Slotnick said. “I want to really help them live better lives up here.”

The need appears to be growing.

Organizers of Wednesday’s event said they have been holding steady at about 120 families served each week at the giveaway, but added that each week, they meet a few new families who have just arrived in Kingston.