Join Trinity in Supporting Immigrants This Holiday Season
In the spirit of giving, consider uplifting these five trusted Trinity partners doing the essential work of protecting vulnerable new New Yorkers.
This December, many immigrants in New York City are facing an increasingly difficult and uncertain reality. Some of our neighbors are experiencing heightened threats of detention and deportation, along with troubling assaults on their civil liberties and inherent human dignity. At the same time, nonprofit organizations that serve these communities — offering legal support, shelter, and other essential services — are stretched thin by federal funding cuts, even as demand for their services continues to grow.
Addressing the needs of new New Yorkers may seem daunting, but it's precisely in times like these that Christians are called to lean more fully into our sacred obligations: to welcome the stranger, care for the poor, and uplift the voices of the most marginalized members of our community.
“Right now, many of our neighbors are living in fear, afraid to go to work, send their children to school, or even visit pantries to secure food for their families. But as fear grows and need multiplies, so does our resolve to show up for each other,” said Bea de la Torre, Trinity’s chief philanthropy officer. “Every day, our congregation and our community partners rise to this challenge — offering care, standing in solidarity, and doing the vital work of building a more just and welcoming New York City.”
In addition to providing meals, groceries, and pastoral care to neighbors in need at our parish, Trinity has made strategic investments in organizations actively defending and strengthening immigrant communities. In the spirit of Advent, we invite all members of the greater Trinity community to join us in this work.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to give, consider supporting one of these five nonprofit organizations with your time, talent, or treasure. These trusted Trinity grantees care for immigrants in numerous ways, including food assistance, legal services, and education:
New York Immigration Coalition: With a base of over 200 member organizations, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is the largest umbrella organization of immigrant rights groups in the state working to improve the lives of immigrants and all New Yorkers. The coalition is leading the way by providing direct legal services, informing people of their rights, and developing campaigns such as New York Proud, a public art project celebrating the contributions of immigrant New Yorkers.
Make the Road New York: This nonprofit seeks to build the power of immigrant and working-class communities. Community centers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island provide a wide array of direct services to immigrant youth and their families, including legal support, ESOL classes, guidance on accessing health care, help applying to college, and food assistance. Over the past year, Make the Road New York has redoubled its efforts to ensure new New Yorkers know their rights and have tools to withstand federal raids on immigrant communities.
Rural & Migrant Ministry: Formed in 1981 by a coalition of faith-based organizations, Rural & Migrant Ministry (RMM) seeks to affirm the inherent dignity of farmworkers in rural New York. Because over 50 percent of farmworkers in New York are undocumented, increased immigration enforcement has left thousands more vulnerable to rights violations, unjust detention, and deportation. In response, RMM is expanding immigrant legal rights training for both farmworkers and faith leaders. They have also focused on empowering rural youth through opportunities in the arts, civic engagement, and college preparation.
The Legal Aid Society: For nearly 150 years, The Legal Aid Society has worked to ensure all New Yorkers can access justice through our legal system. As the nation’s largest public defense and civil legal services provider, their work covers nearly every area of law, from confronting the city’s housing crisis to standing with immigrants. New York City is home to 3.1 million foreign-born immigrants from more than 150 countries and Legal Aid’s work to support them includes reunifying families, assisting people in obtaining lawful status, and defending against deportation.
Envision Freedom Fund: Of the nearly 60,000 people detained by immigration enforcement, over 70 percent have no criminal conviction. As the largest community bail fund in the country, Envision Freedom Fund has helped free over 1,000 people from immigration detention through more than $8.8 million in bond payments. The organization pairs bond payments with post-release support, including transportation from detention facilities, emergency cash assistance, and access to an emotional support group to process trauma with the goal of ensuring dignity and due process for immigrants in New York City.
“At this moment, immigrant New Yorkers remain the most vulnerable among us,” said Murad Awawdeh, NYIC president and CEO. “They have been pushed into the shadows and the margins of society. Community support is essential to ensure every family has an equal chance to thrive.”
“People of faith have especially important roles to play in this work,” according to the Rev. Richard Witt, executive director of Rural & Migrant Ministry. “In this period of uncertainty, with the world changing greatly around us, the Gospel has not,” said Rev. Witt. “As families find themselves living under a shroud of fear and angst, we — with Trinity’s support — remain steadfast in being a hopeful beacon of God’s love.”