Long Island Project Back-to-School Fundraiser
Donación protegida
The Why:
Last year, we were proud to hold our first ever school supplies fundraiser. 2020 has been a particularly difficult year for all of us as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage communities across the country and our nation reckons with centuries of racial injustice. Even before the pandemic, immigrant communities faced economic struggle due to systemic barriers that, among other things, limit the ability of recent arrivals to work lawfully and earn a living wage for their families. The challenges brought by COVID-19 have only intensified these injustices even more. Although the government has responded with some relief packages, many recently arrived immigrants were explicitly left out of that aid. CARECEN and the Long Island Project are joining this effort, specifically to help struggling families prepare for the coming school year.
Our Response to COVID-19 & The Need
In response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our team developed a survey to better understand our clients' individual needs. The survey results underscore the dire situation of immigrants on Long Island, many of whom are excluded from government-funded COVID-19 relief programs and the resources available to NYC residents.
Our team is dedicated to helping our clients prepare for the new school year in the fall, but we need your help. We want to provide our clients with basic school supplies and laptops for remote learning. We invite you to donate to our campaign.
We know that many are affected by the pandemic and economic downturn. We ask that you donate what you can, and appreciate any amount that you can provide.
The Data:
After surveying over 90 client households, the need was clear: our clients and their communities need assistance providing their children with basic school supplies, internet access, and laptops. Below are some key findings from the survey:
- 70.7% of households reported that they will need assistance getting school supplies for their children next year.
- 82.6% of households reported that they lost jobs, or are now working part-time, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 88.2% of households reported that they are not receiving any form of financial assistance at this time.
For more information on our survey results, click here .
Funding:
Where will funds go?
All funds raised will be managed by our team of Community Fellows who maintain close contact with our clients and are better positioned to learn about—and respond—to our clients' evolving needs. We will use all funds to help ensure our clients' children can continue accessing education amid the ongoing pandemic. In case we surpass our fundraising goal, we will use any remaining funds for the following year's fundraiser.
What will we use the money for?
Due to the unprecedented and evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, most school districts have not announced concrete plans for the coming school year. While some schools may reopen in time for the fall, others may decide to continue distance learning. We remain committed to use all funds to ensure our clients' children can continue accessing education, whether remotely or in person. Depending on the amount of money we raise, we may be able to purchase high-ticket items such as tablets or laptops for our most disadvantaged clients. We also aim to provide all basic school supplies, such as loose leaf paper, pencils/pens, markers, and backpacks. Below is an estimate of what various donation levels can purchase for our clients.
Cost of School Supplies:**
$26 donation can cover school supplies for 1 elementary student
$40 donation can cover school supplies for 1 middle school student
$35 donation can cover school supplies for 1 high school student
$200 donation can cover 1 Chromebook laptop for a household - including tax and shipping and handling
**The above numbers are calculated based on school supply lists for different grade levels. Actual costs may change depending on the student, school district, and cost of supplies at the time of order placement.
Fund Distribution:
Our staff will meet throughout the summer to administer the fundraiser. Project staff will also maintain communication with our clients to monitor their needs as school districts announce plans for the coming school year. Updates about our fundraising progress and goals will be posted on this page regularly. At the close of the campaign, we will post a final update reporting on the total funds raised and a summary of how the funds were used. Leftover funds will be used for next year's Back-to-School fundraiser.
Who We Are:
The Long Island Project is a collaboration between Immigrant Justice Corps ("IJC") and CARECEN. IJC is the nation's first and only immigration legal fellowship program. IJC seeks to expand access to counsel by increasing the quantity of immigration lawyers and the quality of the immigration bar. The Central American Refugee Center ("CARECEN") has provided high quality legal assistance to immigrant communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island for over thirty years.
At the Long Island Project, we work mainly with recently arrived asylum-seekers or unaccompanied children who were neglected, abandoned, or abused by their parents. Due to their immigration status (or lack thereof), aside from the constant fear of deportation, most of our clients experience high economic burden. Thinking of ways to help alleviate some of that burden, our team came together to do a back-to-school supply drive, so that our clients can go to school or send their children to school with the things they need.
Last year, we were proud to hold our first ever school supplies fundraiser. 2020 has been a particularly difficult year for all of us as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage communities across the country and our nation reckons with centuries of racial injustice. Even before the pandemic, immigrant communities faced economic struggle due to systemic barriers that, among other things, limit the ability of recent arrivals to work lawfully and earn a living wage for their families. The challenges brought by COVID-19 have only intensified these injustices even more. Although the government has responded with some relief packages, many recently arrived immigrants were explicitly left out of that aid. CARECEN and the Long Island Project are joining this effort, specifically to help struggling families prepare for the coming school year.
Our Response to COVID-19 & The Need
In response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our team developed a survey to better understand our clients' individual needs. The survey results underscore the dire situation of immigrants on Long Island, many of whom are excluded from government-funded COVID-19 relief programs and the resources available to NYC residents.
Our team is dedicated to helping our clients prepare for the new school year in the fall, but we need your help. We want to provide our clients with basic school supplies and laptops for remote learning. We invite you to donate to our campaign.
We know that many are affected by the pandemic and economic downturn. We ask that you donate what you can, and appreciate any amount that you can provide.
The Data:
After surveying over 90 client households, the need was clear: our clients and their communities need assistance providing their children with basic school supplies, internet access, and laptops. Below are some key findings from the survey:
- 70.7% of households reported that they will need assistance getting school supplies for their children next year.
- 82.6% of households reported that they lost jobs, or are now working part-time, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 88.2% of households reported that they are not receiving any form of financial assistance at this time.
For more information on our survey results, click here .
Funding:
Where will funds go?
All funds raised will be managed by our team of Community Fellows who maintain close contact with our clients and are better positioned to learn about—and respond—to our clients' evolving needs. We will use all funds to help ensure our clients' children can continue accessing education amid the ongoing pandemic. In case we surpass our fundraising goal, we will use any remaining funds for the following year's fundraiser.
What will we use the money for?
Due to the unprecedented and evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, most school districts have not announced concrete plans for the coming school year. While some schools may reopen in time for the fall, others may decide to continue distance learning. We remain committed to use all funds to ensure our clients' children can continue accessing education, whether remotely or in person. Depending on the amount of money we raise, we may be able to purchase high-ticket items such as tablets or laptops for our most disadvantaged clients. We also aim to provide all basic school supplies, such as loose leaf paper, pencils/pens, markers, and backpacks. Below is an estimate of what various donation levels can purchase for our clients.
Cost of School Supplies:**
$26 donation can cover school supplies for 1 elementary student
$40 donation can cover school supplies for 1 middle school student
$35 donation can cover school supplies for 1 high school student
$200 donation can cover 1 Chromebook laptop for a household - including tax and shipping and handling
**The above numbers are calculated based on school supply lists for different grade levels. Actual costs may change depending on the student, school district, and cost of supplies at the time of order placement.
Fund Distribution:
Our staff will meet throughout the summer to administer the fundraiser. Project staff will also maintain communication with our clients to monitor their needs as school districts announce plans for the coming school year. Updates about our fundraising progress and goals will be posted on this page regularly. At the close of the campaign, we will post a final update reporting on the total funds raised and a summary of how the funds were used. Leftover funds will be used for next year's Back-to-School fundraiser.
Who We Are:
The Long Island Project is a collaboration between Immigrant Justice Corps ("IJC") and CARECEN. IJC is the nation's first and only immigration legal fellowship program. IJC seeks to expand access to counsel by increasing the quantity of immigration lawyers and the quality of the immigration bar. The Central American Refugee Center ("CARECEN") has provided high quality legal assistance to immigrant communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island for over thirty years.
At the Long Island Project, we work mainly with recently arrived asylum-seekers or unaccompanied children who were neglected, abandoned, or abused by their parents. Due to their immigration status (or lack thereof), aside from the constant fear of deportation, most of our clients experience high economic burden. Thinking of ways to help alleviate some of that burden, our team came together to do a back-to-school supply drive, so that our clients can go to school or send their children to school with the things they need.
Coorganizadores (8)
Megan Elman
Organizador
Hempstead, NY
Becca Reed
Beneficiario
Geovanni Gutierrez Vivar
Coorganizador
Elisa Nunez Gutierrez
Coorganizador
Emerson Argueta
Coorganizador
Monica Naranjo
Coorganizador