Framingham Now Accepting Donations For Asylum Seeking Families

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A dozen Haitian families who were recently put up in a Framingham hotel are now entered into Emergency Assistance Family Shelter system as asylum seekers, Framingham officials announced.

Over the weekend, city and state officials helped the 39 people get adjusted to the city and also rendered medical attention where it was needed. However, the public has been itching to help these Haitian families with donations.

Now, the city announced on Tuesday morning, systems are in place to be able to take those donations.

Two drop-off locations have been established in Framingham to collect a specific set of items that the families need the most. The items are:

• Cases/packs of bottled water
• Cases of shelf-stable juice
• Pedialyte
• Shelf stable milk and/or powdered milk
• Baby Wipes
• Diapers (Size 4)
• Pull ups (Size 4-5)
• New socks and underwear in all sizes (toddler, child and adult)
• Bubbles
• Sidewalk chalk

Two of the city's fire stations have been made available to drop off these items. They are:

• Framingham Fire headquarters at 10 Loring Drive
• Framingham Fire Station #2 at 75 A Street

Jewish Family Service of Metrowest which has experience supporting asylum seekers, has taken over helping find services for the families, according to officials.

"They are assessing, they have the experience to make sure the right questions are being asked and the right services are being provided," said State Rep. Jack Lewis on Monday.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) is supporting health and medical needs of new arrivals and a Rapid Response Team including nurses has been onsite to assess medical needs.

Framingham first responders and Framingham Public Health officials also assisted these individuals with medical needs.

Read more: How Framingham Officials Helped 39 Asylum Seekers, And What Comes Next