Maria Caspani

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Volunteers from Gambian Youth Organization Headquarters sorted through stacks of clothing, shoes and food to take to shelters for people displaced by disaster. More donations arrived Monday.

Amara Touray, volunteer, said that the community’s African- and Latino members came together to support the cause. Some of these families had children with them, so Amara took in tons of donations. All of us, not only the Gambians, but all the residents are affected.”

According to Eric Adams, New York Mayor Eric Adams, many of those who set fire to the Twin Parks North West 19-floor building were from Gambia.

On Monday, neighbors gathered at Masjid Ar Rahmah (a mosque located near Twin Parks North West). Haji Dukuray was a Muslim Gambia native who arrived in America in 1988 to study. He recalled his niece and her husband, as well as the three children of the couple, which all perished in the flames.

Dukuray, who is 61 years old, stated that “we believe that you are from God and go back to God.” That’s the one thing we as a family hold onto.

Dukuray claimed that Twin Parks North West was a centre for West Africans. Others still call it the “Touray Building” after Abdulai Touray. Dukuray claimed Touray, a father figure to young Gambians during the wave of immigrants in late 1980s, was mentioned by Dukuray.

Dukuray declared, “This is our cornerstone in the community,”

Dukuray described the community of taxi drivers, traders and businessmen who went from not having any mosques in their area to now having 11. Dukuray explained that Dukuray started out as a bus boy, and now he directs the operations of an Italian restaurant chain.

He stated, “It’s the American dream story,”

Dawda Fodera, Gambian ambassador to the U.S., said that Monday was his trip from Washington, D.C., back to New York in order to get more information about the fire, as well as to express condolences to President West African nation.

Fadera expressed regret at the situation and said that many of the victims were likely to be Gambian. “Our country currently is in shock.”

Adama Bah (33) is an advocate for immigration reform and was volunteering with the Gambian Youth Organization non-profit. She described the Bronx community’s diversity as having residents from West Africa as well as other African countries as well as large Latino communities.

Bah explained that since 2002 the Gambian Youth Organization operates in the area and offers such services, including a weekly food pantry.

The group has started a GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/relief-for-families-at-333-e-183rd-st for displaced residents, raising over $500,000 in relief support, far exceeding their goal of $200,000.

Red Cross offered emergency housing for 22 families including 56 children and adults. Additional displaced families could also be accommodated through friends and family, or community support.