Why gift cards and money are sought to help the migrant families living in Framingham

FRAMINGHAM — While the 39 refugees who were moved to Framingham on July 28 are getting their footing in the city, social groups continue to seek donations from residents to assist with migrants' transition to Massachusetts.

Jewish Family Services of MetroWest, the social agency that is assisting with the transition of migrant families, said it's in need of gift card donations to Walmart, Target, Walgreens and Stop & Shop, general VISA gift cards and cash donations.

Lino Covarrubias, CEO of Jewish Family Services, said the cards supplement support the families are receiving from the state. By having gift cards to popular chain stores, families can still use them if they're transitioned to a different community.

"The cards work great because they can help pay for things that are not being provided by the commonwealth," Covarrubias said. "The commonwealth is really only providing shelter and food, up to the point that they have the SNAP benefits."

The families were moved into Framingham late last month due to an ongoing migrant crisis taking place throughout the state. Most migrants are ethnically Haitian who have been fleeing ongoing violence in their home country and are seeking asylum in the United States.

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Massachusetts is a right-to-shelter state, meaning it's obligated to provide housing for homeless families with at least one child under age 21. However, given the surge in refugee families entering Massachusetts, the state lacks the shelter infrastructure to house all of them, leading to some being moved into hotels as temporary housing.

In Framingham, families were originally placed at the Red Roof Inn on Cochituate Road; however, on Aug. 11 they were moved to another, undisclosed hotel in Framingham, according to Covarrubias.

"We have moved them to a better hotel site," he said. "This one has kitchenettes in them that will allow them to cook on their own. What we are trying to do is stabilize them as quickly as possible, and this is a step in doing that and getting them set up on their own."

Why Framingham organizations are looking for gift cards

Framingham originally sought donations for migrants, and thousands of items were received through the Framingham Fire Department and other intermediaries during the first week of the migrants' arrival. But the city has since stopped taking donated goods, as migrants had enough supplies.

But other items are still in demand, providing a need for gift cards and cash donations.

"One thing we need is booster seats or car seats," Covarrubias said. "The state doesn't provide those and we don't take used products like that because if they are recalled for some reason, we don't want to be responsible for distributing them, so those need to be purchased by the individuals."

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SNAP benefits also need to be supplemented, with items like baby formula not being readily available and some families in significant need of it.

"It's typical with refugees that we have worked with before that breastfeeding is very difficult for them, given all the travel they have been through, (and) often not being nourished properly," Covarrubias said. "Breastfeeding can be difficult under optimal circumstances, and for some of these women — some of whom have traveled on foot from South America to the U.S. — you can only imagine what they've gone through."

Covarrubias said donating gift cards and cash can help these new city residents learn how to get the items themselves, moving them toward the independence they achieve when they're authorized to work.

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"Instead of the Fire Department showing up and giving them a bunch of diapers, we give them a Walmart gift card, (and) they go, using the transportation system and learning how that works, and buy the diapers themselves," Covarrubias said.

He also said that while it's unknown how long migrants will stay in Framingham, state officials have confirmed that it will be at least into September.

Where to drop off or send donations

Gift cards and donations can be dropped off or mailed to Jewish Family Services, 475 Franklin St., Suite 101, Framingham 01702.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Gift cards, cash donations sought to help migrants in Framingham