Framingham has two drop

FRAMINGHAM — City officials announced Tuesday that they have arranged for two drop-off sites for community members who wish to donate items to help the approximately 40 asylum-seeking Haitian refugees who were recently placed at a local hotel.

Community members can drop off donations at the following two sites between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily:

Massachusetts has seen a rise in Haitian immigration over the last year due to growing instability and gang violence in the Caribbean country. Families have been leaving the country with few resources and many end up in the Bay State, which has the third largest Haitian population in the U.S., trailing only Florida and New York.

Items needed include:

City officials ask that community members not drop off items that are not on the list above.

In a press release, city officials said Jewish Family Service of Metrowest is serving as the primary point of contact for the Haitian families. It is coordinating directly with local nonprofit, faith-based groups, and civic organizations to arrange for additional support for these families as the needs arise.

The Framingham nonprofit is also working with city and state agencies to support the families.

City officials said community members can also make cash donations to JFS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so that needed items can be purchased.

“This is a dynamic situation and we will keep the community informed if and when additional needs arise,” said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky, in a statement.