RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITIES' NEEDS
 

First of all, the deepest gratitude to you for your generous donation to MCN's campaign to help support the families who have been affected by the tragic Bronx apartment building fire. To date, we've raised over $240,000! This is the power of community, Alhamdulillah!
 

This event has shaken us all. It also brings about the painful reminder of the inequities in which we live that have caused this terrible situation. I share with you a poem written by our Program Manager, and leader in her respective Gambian community, Ms. Kujegi Camara


 MCN and grassroots community partners, such as the Gambian Youth Organization, ICNA Relief, interfaith partners, and more continue to advocate for the needs of the families. I want to take a moment to update you on what we're doing on the ground to help the families of the victims. MCN has three team members who are working directly with families, currently stationed at Monroe College.

Ms. Ajifanta Marenah, our Advocacy Coordinator, Ms. Kujegi Camara, Program Manager, and Ms. Adamah Bah, our Immigrant Rights Coordinator, have served as bridges between the families (who overwhelmingly are from the West African/ Gambian community) and city agencies in helping provide translations and connecting them to the right resources. All the while, they are advocating for the city to provide long-term housing solutions -- as the families do not wish to return to that building -- and access to public benefits and immigration services. 

Our team has assessed the needs of the families and we've come up with a plan to distribute the generous donations that have come in here. The best means of support right now is through direct cash assistance so that families can pay for short-term housing, household items, food, and also the disruption in jobs/incomes due to the loss of housing. We will immediately distribute cash assistance to the family's of the 17 victims who died in the fire.  There is an additional 198 individuals (many of whom are undocumented and who are unable to secure a lease due to their legal status) who have been impacted by the fire and are unable to secure safe housing.

We are also going to leverage our volunteers to pack a duffel bag full of supplies and donated clothing etc. to give out to families in the coming weeks. 

THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our community in this time of need. Thank you for trusting MCN with your generous donations.

We will continue to keep you posted.

 Please continue to Donate to our LAUNCHGOOD Campaign which will help us fight for housing justice and mental well-being of the affected community members, and as always, donating to MCN allows us to continue be a responsive community organization!

With Gratitude, 


Aniqa Nawabi
Executive Director