Not really sure what I’m looking for here but I’ve noticed a lot of kids who appear to be migrants on the subway selling candy. Often they’re with a parent but today I saw two without parents. One was crying as he tried to sell me gum. I asked him (in Spanish) where his parents were, if they were close by, if he needs help. When I started asking him about his parents he ran away from me. (I am a woman so probably not immediately threatening).
I’m sure his parents were somewhere on the same train, I hope — I’ve seen kids walking around selling stuff like this in other countries and parents are usually somewhere nearby — but I don’t love seeing kids who look to be around 9 or 10 (I have nieces and nephews so comparing) walking around by themselves on the subway. It’s not common to see kids alone on the train in nyc.
Are there resources available for migrant kids (or any kids I guess) that anyone knows about? Like, if this happens again and a kid says he needs help or something…? I don’t know I feel a bit helpless and maybe I am (already steeling myself for the less generous comments) but maybe someone works with children or something and can let the rest of us know how we can be better hosts and neighbors and look out for each other.
submitted by /u/pizzabagelwoman
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