When President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement swept Southern California, many immigrant families stopped leaving their homes or going to work out of fear.
To help keep families fed, local groups and volunteers began delivering food directly to their doors. While operations have slowed down, Ignite the Light of Hope Foundation says the need to support remains.
The nonprofit was founded five years ago, during the pandemic, after founder Lorraine Aceves saw a growing need in the community. The organization has been hosting food distributions, but last year expanded its efforts to delivering food directly to families’ front doors.
A phone call from a frightened little girl last June is what changed Aceves’ fight against hunger.
“She was like, ‘My dad is a food vendor. He doesn’t want to leave the house, and we need food. Can you help us?’ Aceves said.
At the time, immigration enforcement operations had just begun, and fear was quickly spreading through immigrant communities as reports emerged of federal agents detaining people at workplaces.
“We had so many people calling us in fear of leaving their homes to get basic needs,” Aceves said.
With the help of her son and a team of volunteers, the group delivered food across the San Fernando Valley. She called the effort Bags of Hope.
At one point, they were serving about 42 families, or 121 people, each week, according to the nonprofit. The organization says the number has dropped to about 10 families a week.
Oswaldo, one of the recipients, asked NBCLA to conceal his identity because he is undocumented. He suffers from lung cancer and says going to work felt increasingly dangerous because of his immigration status, so he stopped working. He said his wife also cut her hours at work due to fear. And to this day, he says the fear remains.
For now, Bags of Hope continues providing support and a sense of relief to families still living in fear.