Truckloads Of Donations Help Framingham Asylum Seekers

FRAMINGHAM, MA — It's now a fact to say that residents of Framingham donated a truckload of items for the asylum-seeking families now housed at a local hotel. Well, that's almost true. It was actually two truckloads.

On Friday, Framingham Fire Chief Michael Dutcher and Assistant Fire Chief John Schultz delivered two truck beds full of donations to Jewish Family Service of MetroWest and to the Haitian families directly.

"By the time we dropped off the two truck-loads of donations today, we had another truckload waiting for us at the station," said Schultz.

Now, with plenty of donations accepted, the town will pause taking more at the two drop-off locations established last week at Framingham fire stations.

"The support from the Framingham community has been extremely generous and overwhelming," said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky.

Though Framingham has paused donation acceptance locally, officials shared that more Haitian families were put up in a hotel in Southborough over the weekend. Jewish Familiy Services will also help that community with donation gathering and logistics.

Massachusetts Rep. Kate Donaghue said donations are already helping in Southborough.

"The supplies have been very helpful in Southborough. The children love the bubbles. If people are asking about priority items, new socks and underwear are needed," Donaghue said.

She also noted that her expereince in Framingham helped with the response in the nearby community. To put it simply: the MetroWest has come together for these new families and each other.

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