Donations collected for migrant children being housed in NY

<p>Long Islanders have been donating toys, books, clothes and money for the children.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jul 2, 2018, 6:38 PM

Updated 2,133 days ago

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Long Islanders have been opening their hearts and wallets to help migrant children who have been separated from their parents at the border.
As News 12 has reported, about 10 migrant children are being housed at MercyFirst in Syosset. Other children are being housed in New York City.
Clothes, toys and supplies have been donated to the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre for the children. Two collection boxes at Hempstead Town Hall are also accepting items.
But getting the supplies directly to the children being held in the city and at MercyFirst hasn't been simple. A message on the MercyFirst website is encouraging people to make financial donations instead. And an official with Hempstead Town says she hasn't gotten a response from the Manhattan facilities, so she's shipping supplies to migrant facilities in Texas by way of Catholic Charities.
Some Nassau County legislators say they reached out to MercyFirst to see what is needed in terms of specific clothing or toy donations, but they say information has not been as "forthcoming" as they would like.
So instead, lawmakers were hosting a fundraiser Monday evening at the Hurricane Grill and Wings restaurant in Syosset, and they planned to cut a check for MercyFirst.
On its website, MercyFirst says it appreciates the outpouring of support, but adds that people should send the organization a message first to see exactly what items are needed. 


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