Western Queens assemblyman launches clothing drive for migrants, asylum seekers

Assemblyman Juan Ardila is partnering with several local businesses in his western Queens district to launch a clothing drive for new migrants and asylum seekers.

Ardila said that with the massive influx of migrant workers entering the district, he wanted to support those in need with new clothes.

“Over the past few weeks, my office was informed of a massive influx of new migrants and asylum seekers that had moved into the district and I knew that we, as a community, would be able to quickly organize to provide our neighbors with something as basic as dignified clothing to help them get on their feet,” Ardila said. “The amount of support we received virtually overnight is reflective of the kind of values that Queens is known for.”

Ardila emphasized the urgent need for new clothing for asylum seekers in his district by sharing the details of his office’s phone call with a local school in his community.

“We spoke with a parent coordinator at a local school who informed us that in just the past two weeks, the school had received a wave of migrant students with a need for clothing,” Ardila said. “We are looking for as many new or gently used clothes as soon as possible, and we’ll be happy to add new drop-off locations and partners as needed.”

His office has partnered with several local businesses, including Long Island City Partnership, Hunters Point Parks Conservancy and the P.S./I.S. 78 Parent Teacher Association (PTA), where they will collect clothes, including pants, shirts, shoes, bras, undershirts, socks, hats, gloves, sweaters, jackets, coats, leggings, shoelaces and ties.

Residents looking to drop clothes off can do it at the following six drop-off locations: