As news of asylum seekers being shipped to New York City first emerged, Jeffrey Gardner felt the need to help.
The reality of just how few possessions asylum seekers had hit Gardner as he was dropping his daughter off at P.S. 11 elementary school one cold winter day and saw a child dressed in a T-shirt in the middle of winter.
“Seeing a kid, a baby in a T-shirt… I have never seen anything like this. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Gardner recalled.
What You Need To Know
- After seeing a child dressed in a T-shirt in the middle of winter, Jeffrey Gardner knew he needed to do something to help the asylum seekers who had been displaced from their homes and were now residing in his neighborhood
- Partnering with the parents and staff of P.S. 11, an abundance of items were collected and donated in order to create a general store where individuals could come and pick up everything they needed
- Gardner says you would now have difficulty picking out the newcomers from among the student body
“I felt an obligation to respond," he said. "It was important to show them that, yes, you’re welcome, and I wish the best for you.”
Gardner put out a call — and the school community not only responded, but embraced the new arrivals like family. Halloween costumes were quickly handed out, and the school cafeteria was packed for a Thanksgiving feast.
“This could only really happen at a place like P.S. 11. This school really believes in the word 'community,' and these families are part of our community,” Gardner said.
With the school’s help, Gardner created a classroom one-stop shop. Here, families could pick up clothes, toiletries, school supplies and everything in between. Collectively, the community gathered $200,000 worth of donated goods, supporting more than 60 families.
“So I knew that we would be able to get a good response, and I was still overwhelmed,” Gardner said.
The more that was given, the more people wanted to be a part of the process. Plans were quickly made for a holiday gift drive, and recipients of the store started coming back to help out. One parent volunteer’s phone call led to three days of vision screenings.
Now, as students line up to participate in the eye exams, Gardner is proud to say you couldn’t pick out one of the new kids from the crowd if you tried.
“I cannot say how much this would not have happened without this particular school leadership team that we have here," Gardner said. "It’s a really special school full of wonderful teachers and wonderful staff, and it simply wouldn’t have happened without them.
For proving the power of community, Jeffrey Gardner is our New Yorker of the Week.