Wednesday, May 17, 2023 Members meet to discuss what we can do as an individual and as a group to help newly arrived migrants to our city, currently being housed at police station lobbies until shelter space becomes available for them. Their needs are great, as you can imagine. Betsy Melchers, Program Director of Third Space at Lake View Presbyterian Church joined our meeting.
After reports the members decided on the following plan of action. Along with this post and partnering with the Lakeview Lutheran Church across the street from the 19th District Police Station who will serve as the drop off location for donations between 4:00 and 7:00 pm. Any food donations must be shelf-stable, or consumable immediately, along with plastic utensils if needed. Food suggestions include: snacks like protein bars, Ensure, shakes, individual containers of applesauce, raisins, nuts…
Other suggested donations include:
- Books in Spanish for kids ages 2-5
- Math activity books in Spanish
- Coloring books and crayons
- Pencils and sharpeners
- Adults
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Deodorant
- Dayquil or similar
- Pads/Tampons
- Cotton Balls
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Yoga Mats
- Backpacks/Suitcases
- Underwear (men’s and women’s)
- Socks
- Shoes and sandals (all sizes kids-adults)
Resources:Neighborhood Activist Group called Migrant Help 19https://sites.google.com/view/19thdistrict/home Lakeview Lutheran Church Website.
They are coordinating effort for the police station across the street on Addison
http://www.lakeviewlutheran.com/
If you wish to provide other services to the migrants, such as translation service, children’s programming, etc., you can offer your service at this link: