SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Undocumented families in Camden received some much-needed help during the ongoing pandemic.
New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy handed out nearly 350 cash gift cards to undocumented families during a state Pandemic Relief Fund event at the Kroc Center in Camden on Saturday. Families of two received $500 gift cards and families of three or more received $1,000.
The fund put aside $400,000 for undocumented families.
Carmen Ubarry, an organizer of the event, said these families are often left behind.
“These folks don’t get help. Some of us got our stimulus and unemployment, but undocumented folks don’t qualify for any of those,” she said. “These are families that are working in New Jersey, striving and trying to do their best.”
Pastor Ariel Calderon, who helped in the effort, was proud to see the community come together to let these families know they have not been forgotten.
“These are the hardest working people you will ever meet and because of the system, they don’t always get the recognition, but sometimes things all work out for the best, and this is one of those times,” he said.
“This was a way to say thank you to our families, to our community that when it’s time to come together and help one another, we find a way to get it done,” added Ubarry. “Some of the text messages I have received afterward just saying how thankful and how on time that money was.”