As Kingston’s Hispanic immigrant population explodes, nonprofits are battling to help keep new families afloat during the pandemic.

The influx would be noticeable to anyone who has been passing by the weekly food and clothing giveaways at Holy Cross Church on Pine Grove Avenue.

“My dream is for them to study,” food recipient Juana Mooguitz said, gesturing toward her son and newborn daughter. “I want them to live and be happy.”

At least 140 families received bags of lean meats, milk, rice, produce, clothing, and diapers on Wednesday.

“Thank God it exists,” Mooguitz said of the event. “Yes, this is a big help for me because my family is big.”

What You Need To Know

  • The pandemic has caused job losses among Kingston’s growing immigrant population, and volunteers are working to keep the families afloat

  • Many of the families came from the same region of Guatemala, and are seeking asylum

  • Volunteers recently said their food costs have doubled this year

  • They now spend about $2,500 a week to help feed the growing group of families

The giveaway used to be monthly. Then it became twice a month. Now, it is weekly.

Volunteers with the advocacy group, the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network (UIDN), said they had to expand food distribution because of the growing need.

Volunteer and project co-lead Kim Touchette said the 140 families being served is up by about 15 from the UIDN’s giveaway two weeks ago. Next week, she expects an additional 10 to 15 families to show up.

“The pandemic has hit families really hard,” she said. “Many of our families are essential workers. Many rely on outdoor work and the winter is a tough time for them anyway.”

Most of the families at these weekly giveaways are indigenous and came to Kingston from Petén in northern Guatemala.

In previous interviews, several families have said they fled persecution, and are waiting for their asylum petitions to be processed.

Many of the parents have experience in carpentry, which led them to seek work on local construction projects. Many others work in food service and seamstressing. Even though most of the families are currently living in the U.S. legally, if they lose their jobs, they do not receive unemployment, nor do they receive stimulus checks.

“My husband has been without work since March 2020,” Lucia, a mother of two boys, said in Spanish, as she loaded a bag of fresh food into her car’s trunk. “We are positive. We get help ... The kids are being helped. That’s good. We want them to have it better than we did.”

The resources are not endless. The UIDN relies on donations.

Volunteers recently said their food costs have doubled this year. They now spend about $2,500 a week to help feed the growing group of families.