At the nonprofit Little Sisters of the Assumption family support center in East Harlem, the children are happy, and so are their mothers.
It was recess time and in the classrooms the teacher Wendy MejÃa focused through play on the emotional bond between parents and children.
Teacher Mejía.
“It is super important because that is the basis of our children’s self-esteem, it is the basis of security. And then, when there is this secure attachment, this emotional bond, the children always return to their mother or to where dad. When they feel insecure, when they have doubts or to make decisions in adolescence,” explained teacher Meíia.
The center was founded in 1958, by Sister of the Assumption of the Sacred Heart of Mary Susane Lachapelle. Her mission was to help the neediest in the neighborhood, which continues to this day through emotional, physical and spiritual education.
“Sister Susan saw the need to link immigrant families and she saw the sadness and loneliness of these families and the disorientation they had when they arrived here. So she did see this need and that’s why she said how to do something so that these families “they felt welcomed and felt a place like it was their home,” added Sister Daisy MartÃnez Copa.
In addition to helping with clothing, food and health services for the entire community, they now also help immigrants seeking asylum in NY.
“Those items that are all donated go directly to the community. Some at very reasonable prices so that low-income people can stock up. Second, the money is recycled for all the projects we have here. And third, a part goes free to those who come seeking asylum, because of course, they come with almost nothing,” explained Jonah Gensler, CEO LSA, Little Sisters of the Assumption.
Irma Landa arrived in NY more than 20 years ago. She received help from the Sisters of the Assumption and since then she has also been part of the center.
Landa.
“Once a man came with four, three little girls, about months old and they didn’t have any clothes, they came in the middle of winter and they didn’t even have pampers, the little girl and we went to the other programs Here, we dressed the girls and the man left, but happy,” Landa said.
Carolina Tenecesa arrived at the center when she was 3 years old.
“So that they can have more access to the city, so that they can undertake and get ahead. Just as the agency helped me a long time ago, it helped me apply to schools throughout my life and then I was able to get a four-year scholarship and get my bachelor’s degree and now I’m here trying to help people too,” said Carolina Tenecela, director of community health, Little Sisters of the Assumption.
Another of the center’s objectives is to empower neighborhood women and immigrants who have left their countries and families behind, in a journey full of obstacles.
“Each doll has its personal story. We tell them to make a doll wanting to connect with that girl they left in their country, we also help them recognize that they are strong women and we make this craft hand in hand where she makes like a mold of her own hand and we talk to her and tell her that they have to realize that they are already strong, that their hand does a lot for themselves and their families,” said Pura Cruz, family case supervisor.
Every Wednesday, families in this area where the poverty level is the highest in the city can bring products to make meals.
“We know that the level of hunger in this area is a little higher than the others. So we have a lot of demand for insecurity, for food in this area. So we do everything possible to fight against that and every day we receive donations from the communities,” said José William Avalos, Pantry Coordinator, Little Sisters of the Assumption.
2024-01-26 19:00:00
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