Local, state and federal lawmakers came together at the Nepperhan Community Center in Yonkers Friday to hear firsthand how a child tax credit program has impacted people in the community.

Yonkers mother Raquel Ali told lawmakers at a roundtable that the expanded child tax credit program has helped her better provide for her 12-year-old daughter.

"My daughter is also a vegetarian, and so being able to go to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's and give her quality organic foods that she needs, it really makes me feel good as a parent,” Ali said.

Lawmakers say the child tax credits, which were passed in the American Rescue Plan, brought 3 million children out of poverty in July alone.

“We have millions of kids in poverty across this country. If they get a monthly payment towards them just like seniors, with social security…it will turn their life around,” said Rep. Jamaal Bowman.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand adds, “This will make the difference between surviving and thriving— and that's what we want for all our communities."

Officials say the program could especially help poverty-stricken areas, such as southwest Yonkers, where the Nepperhan Community Center sits.

The child tax credit is currently a temporary program. Rapper and activist Styles P spoke to lawmakers at the event and urged for the program to become permanent.

"Why does that even have to be discussed, why is that even a debate? It’s the right thing to do,” he said.

Ali said she also hopes to see the program become permanent so she and her daughter can continue to thrive.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the average family in New York receives about $413 per month in child tax credits.