Chicago church packs food, supplies for residents in fear of immigration raids
Amid fears of immigration raids, Chicago agency packs food, supplies for residents
A community care center has mobilized on Chicago's Southwest Side in response to fears of federal immigration agents and the suspension of a food assistance program.
CHICAGO - A community care center has mobilized on Chicago's Southwest Side in response to fears of federal immigration agents and the suspension of a food assistance program.
What we know:
Volunteers packed 30-pound boxes of emergency food on Tuesday for people who are unable to get to the store in Little Village due to immigration enforcement operations.
New Life Centers opened its 20,000-square-foot warehouse to collect food, clothing, and supplies to be delivered to people who need it.
The church was able to coordinate the effort after the chaos that took place in Little Village in recent days, like at the Little Village Discount Mall last week. Neighbors came out to protest when federal agents showed up and deployed tear gas.
It was part of two days during which Little Village was targeted by immigration enforcement.
"You could feel the intensity of the situation. You could the sense of fear in the community but you could feel that strong sense of I’m here. I have a voice, it needs to be heard," said Director of Program Operations at New Life Centers of Chicagoland Thomas Garcia.
They're also providing rapid response teams with gas masks and safety equipment.
What they're saying:
Pastor Matt DeMateo called this a period of pain and suffering, but his organization is providing hope.
"First time in my 25 years we ordered respirators and gas masks," DeMateo said. "We ordered whistles. We ordered all kinds of things for keeping rapid responders safe, and so using those supplies, we then distributed them across the network. And it's definitely something we've never had to do."
DeMateo added that the fear over immigration arrests has affected "the spiritual landscape and church" as well as local businesses and schools which have seen "huge drops in attendance."
Some classrooms in Little Village, Pilsen and Brighton Park have as few as six kids attending class. At New Life Centers, church attendance went from 300 to 30.
Organizers said sales on the usually busy 26th Street corridor in Little Village are down more than 50%.
The organizers at New Life Centers are doing what they can to fill in the gaps.