AID FOR LIFE continues to serve asylum seekers in New York City with strollers and bicycles
Through a program organized by Bike New York and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), AID FOR LIFE (AFL) distributed 20 bikes to newly arrived asylum seekers in New York City.
This program is part of the alliances formed with the local government and other non-profit organizations to assist this new community. Through an partnership of 5 organizations, a total of 200 bicycles will be donated before the end of 2023. Among these organizations are Mixteca, La Colmena, Coalición Mexicana, NICE and AID FOR LIFE.
One of the biggest challenges asylum seekers face is transportation. Due to lack of resources and ineligibility to work legally in the United States, many of them cannot pay for public transportation. Jumping the turnstile is illegal and can result in arrest, which would affect their asylum application.
The bikes are a relief for them, and can become a mean to provide for their families, especially if they are making deliveries.
Working with Trinity Church Wall Street, AID FOR LIFE has delivered more than 40 strollers for newborns and toddlers of asylum-seeking families.
New York City is known for being a “walkable” city. However, having young children and not having a stroller can be quite a challenge. Throughout their path, these families left behind all their belongings, either because they were too heavy to carry on a very long journey, or because they were stolen at some point along the way.
Having access to a stroller represents a change and improvement in the lives of these families. By not having the resources to pay for public transportation, many of the families have to walk to their destinations in the city.
AFL remains committed to this population, seeking to satisfy their basic needs, while they manage to make their way and integrate into the city.