Greenburgh HS interns came to the aid of migrants living at the Ardsley Acres Hotel
46 Greenburgh Town Hall 2023 Summer Interns, in collaboration with Ardsley Mayor Nancy Kaboolian, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, Town Clerk Judith Beville, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman, have completed an initiative to help legal asylum seekers currently residing at the Ardsley Acres Motel and at the Central Motel in White Plains.
Interns have engaged in volunteer work assisting in English language classes, setting up a food drive, and creating an online petition. There is a great community concern and a greater humanitarian need for attention to these asylum seekers. The quality of the food the asylum seekers are receiving from a private contract through New York City (DocGo) has left them sick and hungry. Unable to work due to arbitrary and outdated laws, they have no choice but to live off of the minimal resources the city provides.
County Executive Latimer has already contacted Homeland Security about bringing a Federal Immigration Court to Westchester to address the arrival of immigrants in other Westchester municipalities.
A food drive was held at Ardsley High School last weekend and a picnic for the migrants was held last week.
Westchester County Legislator David Imamura and State Assemblywoman Mary Jane Shimsky. Katherine Wolf of St. Barnabas Church also assisted the interns.
Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner added that the interns were able to determine that the migrants were seeking better food and bicycles for local travel.
A few weeks ago two student interns appeared before the Greenrgh Town Board advising the Board that the asylum seekers were complaining about the poor quality of the food–which they were told was not eatable. We reached out to DocGo and have some good news to report:
DocGo responded by saying “ we will put together something with our marketing team for RFPs. For now, if we can start finding local restaurants that we can start rotating in weekly for special lunches and dinners.
New York City government is paying DocGo to provide meals for migrants with a budget of $11 per meal.
Feiner has asked for local restaurants to step up and help with food service.
Latin American dishes, Venezuelan dishes, Halal dishes, Spanish dishes, all great options Individual meals are great and preffered, catering cafeteria style is an option, like the picnic.
The migrants are staying at 90 individuals – Ardsley Acres Hotel Court – 560 Saw Mill River Pkwy, Ardsley, and 100 individuals – Central Motel Courtyard- 441 Central Ave. White Plains. Another 100 individuals are staying at the Ramada Inn on Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers.
If you know of restaurants or caterers who can meet these requirements please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. “We are trying to help the asylum seekers have a better quality of life while they are in our community,” wrote Feiner, who has also asked for donations of bicyles for the migrants, writing
“During the picnic that the 46 Greenburgh summer interns sponsored at Macy Park earlier this week, we asked some of the asylum seekers what they would want the most. A few migrants mentioned – a bicycle so they could have mobility and get around. They are currently staying at the Ardsley Acres Motel. Luis Beltran, who works for Town Clerk Judith Beville is the son of immigrants from Chile, speaks Spanish and followed up with the migrants. This is what we need for asylum seekers at the Ardsley Acres Motel. If we get more donations we will reach out to other migrants staying in other locations in Westchester. Federal laws provide migrants with a clear right if they are fleeing persecution to seek asylum in the United States.
“If you have a used bicycle that you don’t need and want to donate them please e mail lbeltran@greenburghny.com. Please copy me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. We will make sure that the migrants get the bicycles that are donated. When e mailing please advise what kind of bicycle you have to donate,” wrote Feiner.
The size of bicycles they are in need of are,
29” = 3 men; 27” = 8 men; 26” = 7 (1 men & 6 Women); Kids size = 2 bicycles.
Emails can ben sent to Feiner at pfeiner@greenburghny.com for donations.
