Last Thursday, the Chelsea Collaborative held its annual Thanksgiving Dinner at its location on 318 Broadway.
Community members gathered to enjoy a full buffet dinner with desserts, while children had access to a cotton candy station. Gladys Vega, the Collaborative’s President, and her staff welcomed all attendees.
Board President Rosalba Medina coordinated a substantial team of staff and volunteers who worked to serve the various food offerings to guests.
This year’s event marked a special occasion, as the Collaborative unveiled the Immigrant Justice Bond Fund. The initiative was developed in partnership with EECO organization and the Episcopal City Mission, which includes St. Luke’s Church, Chelsea.
The purpose of this fund is to help families pay bonds set by immigration judges so that detained individuals can be released and reunited with their relatives.
The Collaborative regularly assists family members who seek help locating relatives detained by immigration authorities. While working to find these individuals and secure pro-bono legal representation, the organization has encountered a significant barrier: insufficient funds to help people secure release from detention.
In response to this challenge, the Collaborative partnered with ECCO and Episcopal City Mission to develop financial solutions for bond payments. The organization is now positioned to help mothers and fathers leave detention centers with support from these available resources.
The fund operates through a repayment structure that allows the money to remain available for future cases. Upon release, individuals receive connections to legal and social services tailored to their family’s specific circumstances.
During remarks at the event, Vega emphasized that the Collaborative stood ready to serve residents through its various services and programs, and to refer people to appropriate legal resources.
Yessenia Alfaro, deputy director at the Collaborative, considered the gathering a tremendous success, particularly given the large attendance despite the approaching first snowstorm of the season.
“It’s a blessing that so many people came here to tonight to celebrate Thanksgiving with us, and we’re grateful for our partnership with the ECCO organization and Episcopal City Mission in launching this important fund,” said Alfaro.
Several residents expressed gratitude to Gladys Vega for her strong leadership of the Collaborative and the organization’s persistent commitment to serving the entire community.