Middleborough community rallies together to assist 75 newly-arrived unsheltered migrants

MIDDLEBOROUGH – Town Manager James McGrail and Select Board Chair Mark A. Germain report that Town officials have been working diligently to provide critical necessities and supplies to more than 20 unsheltered migrant families that were placed in a local hotel by the state late last week.

As of this afternoon, about 75 unsheltered migrants from Haiti have been placed in a local hotel serving as an emergency shelter in Middleborough. Almost half of them are young children.

“Last Friday, on very short notice from the state, we received notice that several unsheltered migrants from Haiti were being sent to be housed at a hotel here in town,” Town Manager McGrail said. “When they arrived, many of them had nothing but the clothes on their backs, including t-shirts and flip flops. None of them speak English. Many of them have young children and they were lacking any basic necessities, things we take for granted like toothbrushes, socks, water, diapers and baby formula. Since their arrival, we have been working around the clock to secure donations of critical supplies and necessities for these families in need.”

As a “right to shelter state,” Massachusetts guarantees that families can be housed in temporary shelters to alleviate homelessness. This law extends to families, pregnant women, and migrant families. Middleborough’s Local Emergency Planning Committee, made up of several Town department heads, met last week to create an operational plan to manage the situation and provide help from the municipal level.

The Committee secured a large donation of several items such as clothes and toiletries from Savers in Plymouth. Many local groups and organizations have also provided donations, including items like toys for the children, in recent days.

“These people all want the same things that we want for our families, a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, clothes on their backs and a safe and welcoming learning environment for their children,” Town Manager McGrail said. “We’re doing our best to help provide them with what we can and I want to say how extremely proud I am of our Town employees who have all rallied around what we consider to be a humanitarian crisis here in Middleborough.”

Health Department

The Middleborough Health Department has been intaking families at the hotel and conducting a needs assessment for each family. Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health also have been conducting health assessments for each individual. As part of this effort the state has hired a certified contractor to provide required immunizations to children who need them.

Health Department staff also have been organizing and distributing supplies and “welcome boxes” to the families that include things like toiletries, diapers, clothing, feminine hygiene products, baby formula and groceries.

Police Department

Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins has assigned Officer Gustavo Ribeiro to help provide translation services to bridge the language barrier between those sheltered at the hotel and Town officials.

Officer Ribeiro speaks four languages: Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish and English.

“These are vulnerable people who have been sent by the state to live here in Middleborough and none of them speak English,” Chief Perkins said. “As part of our effort to make their situation more comfortable, I have assigned Officer Ribeiro to help with translating where needed and he’s been doing a great job so far.”

Additionally, MPD School Resource Officers are assisting with school enrollment efforts.

School District

The Middleborough Public Schools immediately mobilized and then allocated resources to assist in the effort, including in-person assistance provided by the Family Resource Coordinator, Director of Student Services and Communications Director/CTO.

Additionally, MPS has secured translation devices for Town departments to aid in communication efforts with the newest community members.

So far, MPS has enrolled 14 children of varying grade levels, who will be starting school next week.

On Wednesday night, Sept. 27, school officials arranged a test bus ride for the children from the hotel to their respective schools and then back. For many of them it was their first time riding on a school bus. The bus rides were donated by Five Star Bus Company, who provides transportation services to the district.

MPS will be providing the children with necessary school supplies, and will be receiving funding and some supplies from the state, to ensure they have everything they need to be able to transition into their classrooms.

The district’s Family Resource Coordinator Meghan Quirke has been instrumental in organizing donations of supplies and necessities for the families from the district and Town level.

Fire Department

The Middleborough Fire Department has been assisting by delivering water and supplies to the hotel and Chief Thompson has been leading the Emergency Management effort as the Town’s Emergency Management Director.

Any local businesses, groups or organizations that would like to make donations of either supplies or monetary donations are asked to reach out to Family Resource Coordinator Meghan Quirke, at mquirke@middleboro.k12.ma.us.

The Town is currently in need of toiletries and clothes, particularly winter clothes.

Quirke can provide information about what specifically the Town is in need of.

All monetary donations will go toward providing transportation services for the families to be able to go to necessary appointments. Checks can be made payable to the Town of Middleborough.

Town officials are currently working to coordinate drop off locations for any residents who would like to contribute. Further information will be announced when the plans have been finalized.

Looking Forward

While this is a very fluid and evolving situation, Town Manager McGrail and Select Board Chair Germain would like to make it clear that these efforts in no way compromise the level of services provided to all other Middleborough residents.

“Putting politics aside, I would like to acknowledge and commend our Town employees who have stepped up in a big way to help these families in need,” Select Board Chair Germain said. “Their mobilization effort and what they’ve been able to accomplish in less than a week’s time is extraordinary. The Town of Middleborough should be proud of our response thus far and we will be continuing these efforts going forward.”

On Saturday morning, the Middleborough Public Library will be hosting a Haitian story hour for children in the hotel lobby with an audio-visual presentation where stories will be translated from English into Haitian-Creole.

Town officials would like to thank everyone who has stepped up to help so far through donations, volunteering, providing transportation and giving their time.

Anyone with questions is asked to contact Town Manager’s office at 508-947-0928.