The article discusses the challenges faced by migrant fruit and candy vendors in New York City, particularly women with children who sell food without a license due to lack of options. One woman named Lorena shared her story of arriving in the U.S. from Ecuador with her husband and child and having to sell fruit illegally while waiting for legal authorization. Despite the risks of fines and enforcement, Lorena continued vending to provide for her family after a perilous journey to the U.S. The city has issued thousands of summonses to unlicensed vendors this year, but Lorena and others like her continue to sell food out of necessity.
The article also highlights the efforts of programs like Promise NYC, which provides free child care for migrant families with children staying in shelters. The program partners with local organizations to offer child care subsidies to enroll migrant children, helping ease the burden on families like Lorena’s. Since the program launched, city funding for it has increased to $25 million for the next year to support a thousand children, but the challenge remains in reaching and informing families in need of these services.
After learning about the program, Lorena was able to secure a spot for her daughter at a nearby day care center, bringing her to tears with gratitude. Programs like Promise NYC and organizations like Algun Dia work to support migrant families and provide essential services to help them navigate the challenges they face in pursuing a better life in the U.S.
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