Above: The non-profit Friends group supporting the Youth Commission’s work will use donated funds to help the migrant families that are sheltering at a hotel in town. (image from Facebook)
Yesterday morning, I shared news on 18 migrant families who are being sheltered in Southborough. I included the Town’s news on how the community could help provide aid (by donating specific items from a registry). Now, Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission have created an easier way. You can make a financial donation.
Originally, the Town’s announcement made clear that they couldn’t accept cash or gift cards. But, as a 501(c)3, Friends of the SYC is able to accept donations “to help supplement the town program being coordinated through the Southborough emergency response team (CERT)”. The announcement states that funds raised will support the families “temporarily housed in Southborough”
To make a donation please go to www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheSYC and use the donate button* or mail a check payable to: Friends of the SYC and mail to: Kathy Cook, 132 Turnpike Road Suite 250, Southborough, MA 01772.
Friends is an I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3) charitable entity. All contributions are deductible as charitable contributions for both federal and Massachusetts income tax purposes.
Since, based on the announcement, it appears that CERT volunteers are involved in helping, I’ll also include here a reminder that they are seeking new members. You can read about them here.
It’s also worth adding details on news that I previewed in the original story. Governor Maura Healey did officially declare the situation with sheltering migrants an emergency. According to the story by the Boston Globe, there are currently more than 5,600 families with children in shelters across the state (including dorms and hotels). That’s an increase of 80% over last year.
The Governor said the emergency declaration is to seek federal aid and to push the administration to allow the migrants to have work visas. You can read more about that here.
*To see the blue “Donate” button on Facebook, you need to be logged in as an individual Facebook user. (If your profile is being seen by default as a page administrator, you’ll need to switch to your personal account.)
