Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is currently welcoming Venezuelan migrants by providing them with fresh meals, clothing, legal services and housing.

Dozens of asylum seekers were using the church as a temporary shelter.

Since the summer, the church has helped roughly 300 families find shelters and permanent homes.

The city says more than 23,000 migrants have arrived at Port Authority since the spring — many fleeing economic collapse in Venezuela.

Reverend Juan Carlos Ruiz, a pastor at Good Shepherd, is an immigrant himself and says New Yorkers must rise to this challenge.

“What we are basically doing is welcoming not only who are being bussed here to New York from the south but also, we have become a resource center,” said Ruiz.

This church has been serving waves of immigrants for more than 100 years.

From Norwegians and Germans in the 1800s to Syrians in the early 2000s and most recently Ukrainians fleeing war with Russia.

“At the heart of our religious tradition is this practice of compassion. Practice of being there for the other, whoever the other is,” said Ruiz.

According to the 2020 Census, more than 85,000 people live in Bay Ridge, 40% of them were born outside of the United States.

“You look at this building and it shouts at you of a history of immigrant people. Waves of immigrants who have come to our shores for many years,” said Ruiz.

Ruiz says he takes pride in leading a church that has such a storied history of helping those in need, because he believes it is a pillar of his faith.

“The stepping up to that prayer is a complete way of being a neighbor to those who are more vulnerable than us,” he added.

Ruiz says the church is still accepting donations of basic necessities, from clothing to groceries.

For more information or to donate to the cause, log on to goodshepherdbayridge.org.