Help asylum-seekers at First Unitarian in Brooklyn
Donation protected
We are the Immigrant Solidarity Committee at First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (“First U”). Together with community partners, we are supporting four immigrants as they seek asylum in the United States.
While our guests apply for asylum, they aren’t allowed to work. Our congregation has come together to serve these asylum-seekers, but expenses are high and we urgently need financial support. Can you make a donation to help our guests get through the asylum process? First U does not keep any of the money: it all goes to our guests.
Our expenses are:
- $5,000 to cover two guests’ legal fees (the others have pro bono representation)
- $5,000 for several months’ worth of food and groceries for our guests who do not have work permits yet
- $4,650 for six months of rent for our guest whose hosts are not able to cover that cost themselves
- $1,500 for English classes
- $1,000 for transportation costs, which is especially important because our guests need a reliable way to get to court, meet with lawyers, and become familiar with the city
- $1,000 for an emergency health care fund, in case any of our guests need unforeseen medical attention
Our guests are:
- A trans woman asylum-seeker who was bonded out of U.S. detention in fall 2019 and now lives with members of the congregation.
- A Cuban woman who was in a U.S. detention camp in fall 2018 before being bonded out. Since then, she has been living with a family in our congregation. With our support, she has applied for asylum, received a work permit, started English classes, and applied for a green card. She wrote a few sentences for us to share here:
“...One year ago, The first Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn opened the doors for me and became my home. Today I can say that human warmth, solidarity, the show of love, support and delivery without limits received have been the fundamental pillar. Today I walk through Brooklyn with a firm step, I feel safe, the most difficult days have remained in the past. I project to the future. Today [learning English], and fighting for new opportunities. The difficult thing was never to fill the suitcase, but to know that there was no room for family and friends. First Unitarian became my family.”
- A father and his ten-year-old son who left Guatemala to find safety and opportunity in the United States. They stayed at our church for a week in early 2019, and are now living with friends of the congregation. The son is truly thriving in our community. With the permission of him and his father, we’re sharing this quote from his teacher:
“He is a sweet and caring young child who is a pleasure to have in class. He works well with others and independently.... He is showing great effort and has already made a tremendous amount of progress since the first day of school.... I am very proud of what he accomplished.... I am truly lucky to have him in my class!”
Our goal is to provide our guests with everything they need to get through the asylum process with dignity and safety. Ultimately we hope our guests will get approval to stay and work in the U.S., at which point they can support themselves.
Our community partners include social justice organizations and other congregations . We’re all sharing our resources, but expenses are still high and very urgent.
Every single dollar donated will go a long way towards helping our guests in their time of need. All donated funds will go directly to the asylum-seekers’ living expenses or will be given to the asylum-seekers themselves. First U doesn’t keep a cent.
First Unitarian is a joyful, caring, religious community that inspires and empowers people to grow spiritually, care for one another, and work for social justice and stewardship of the earth. We hope you will join us in supporting our guests as they build safe and happy lives in the U.S. We will handle all donations with care and integrity.
If you would rather send a donation offline, you can mail a check to 48 Monroe Place, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please address the check to “First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn” and write "Immigrant Solidarity Committee" in the memo line.
If you live in New York City and would like to volunteer your time or other resources, please email us at [email redacted].
Thank you for helping us support asylum-seekers in our community as they build safe, stable, joyful, and full lives here in New York!
While our guests apply for asylum, they aren’t allowed to work. Our congregation has come together to serve these asylum-seekers, but expenses are high and we urgently need financial support. Can you make a donation to help our guests get through the asylum process? First U does not keep any of the money: it all goes to our guests.
Our expenses are:
- $5,000 to cover two guests’ legal fees (the others have pro bono representation)
- $5,000 for several months’ worth of food and groceries for our guests who do not have work permits yet
- $4,650 for six months of rent for our guest whose hosts are not able to cover that cost themselves
- $1,500 for English classes
- $1,000 for transportation costs, which is especially important because our guests need a reliable way to get to court, meet with lawyers, and become familiar with the city
- $1,000 for an emergency health care fund, in case any of our guests need unforeseen medical attention
Our guests are:
- A trans woman asylum-seeker who was bonded out of U.S. detention in fall 2019 and now lives with members of the congregation.
- A Cuban woman who was in a U.S. detention camp in fall 2018 before being bonded out. Since then, she has been living with a family in our congregation. With our support, she has applied for asylum, received a work permit, started English classes, and applied for a green card. She wrote a few sentences for us to share here:
“...One year ago, The first Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn opened the doors for me and became my home. Today I can say that human warmth, solidarity, the show of love, support and delivery without limits received have been the fundamental pillar. Today I walk through Brooklyn with a firm step, I feel safe, the most difficult days have remained in the past. I project to the future. Today [learning English], and fighting for new opportunities. The difficult thing was never to fill the suitcase, but to know that there was no room for family and friends. First Unitarian became my family.”
- A father and his ten-year-old son who left Guatemala to find safety and opportunity in the United States. They stayed at our church for a week in early 2019, and are now living with friends of the congregation. The son is truly thriving in our community. With the permission of him and his father, we’re sharing this quote from his teacher:
“He is a sweet and caring young child who is a pleasure to have in class. He works well with others and independently.... He is showing great effort and has already made a tremendous amount of progress since the first day of school.... I am very proud of what he accomplished.... I am truly lucky to have him in my class!”
Our goal is to provide our guests with everything they need to get through the asylum process with dignity and safety. Ultimately we hope our guests will get approval to stay and work in the U.S., at which point they can support themselves.
Our community partners include social justice organizations and other congregations . We’re all sharing our resources, but expenses are still high and very urgent.
Every single dollar donated will go a long way towards helping our guests in their time of need. All donated funds will go directly to the asylum-seekers’ living expenses or will be given to the asylum-seekers themselves. First U doesn’t keep a cent.
First Unitarian is a joyful, caring, religious community that inspires and empowers people to grow spiritually, care for one another, and work for social justice and stewardship of the earth. We hope you will join us in supporting our guests as they build safe and happy lives in the U.S. We will handle all donations with care and integrity.
If you would rather send a donation offline, you can mail a check to 48 Monroe Place, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please address the check to “First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn” and write "Immigrant Solidarity Committee" in the memo line.
If you live in New York City and would like to volunteer your time or other resources, please email us at [email redacted].
Thank you for helping us support asylum-seekers in our community as they build safe, stable, joyful, and full lives here in New York!
Organizer
First Unitarian in Brooklyn Immigrant Solidarity Committee
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
