Borough President Eric Adams kicked off the holiday season last week with donations of MetroCards to some of Brooklyn's most vulnerable residents.

Adams partnered with Bishop Michael Evans of Faith Holy Church of the Living God in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Reverend Dr. Alfred Cockfield of God’s Battalion of Prayer Church in East Flatbush to donate over 110 MetroCards to low-income New Yorkers.

“With these MetroCards, people don’t need to jump the turnstile and get arrested or beg for a swipe, they can travel in a dignified manner,” said Adams. “If we really care, we have to have a fair fare so people can move throughout the city and receive the resources that they need.”

According to a report from Community Service Society of New York, one in four low-income New Yorkers cannot afford transportation, which subsequently limits their access to good employment.

Citing the report, Adams announced his support for the Fair Fares campaign, a program launched by transportation activist group The Riders Alliance. The campaign calls on New York City to establish a program that would allow low-income New Yorkers to purchase MetroCards at a reduced rate.

Dr. Melony Samuels, founder and executive director of Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger, said they found the lack of transportation affordability a common issue when they meet with residents who come to them for food.

According to Samuels, they give each family an in-depth assessment and refer them to other partners that provide additional services, but they often aren't able to make it to the appointments.

“We found that clients were not completing their referrals because the cost of transportation is too high,” she said. “The round-trip cost for a parent and two children is $16.50. If we add another one-way fare to another facility, that brings the transportation cost to a whopping $24.75.”