Food Justice For Immigrant Families
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When COVID-19 broke out, a group of volunteers standing in solidarity with immigrants and other marginalized communities in the metro DC area initiated a campaign to distribute food resources to folks in the community who are undocumented. Since then, Food Justice DMV has distributed food and essentials to over 290,000 families and raised more than $909,000 (through this and other channels)! This money is already spent on food and essentials (diapers, baby formula, over-the-counter medicines masks & sanitary products)The need is far greater than this and we are constantly in need of funds.
Importantly, this is not “charity” (which too often disempowers those on the receiving end), but rather a systematic program rooted in justice and the recognition of our shared humanity. Food Justice DMV believes that ALL immigrants have the right to live with dignity, free from the fear of detention and deportation – not just those who are model citizens, or devoted parents, or otherwise remarkable, but for the simple fact that they are human beings. A prerequisite of a life with dignity is access to adequate food.
It began with our founding directora, who remembered Oscar. On the way to an immigration check-in, he had said, “Last time, I had to take a cab and it cost me $150. Then, I had to explain to my 8 year-old daughter why we didn’t have any food.” She reached out to Oscar and discovered that he was running out of food again. Soon, it was clear that Oscar was not alone. We began receiving requests, and the waitlist quickly exploded to 6,600 people.
We don’t just offer food aid. Hyper-local food resource teams bridge the digital divide, coaching people how to find free, accessible food, while teams of volunteers text in-the-moment food distribution info to families nearby. We provide families with COVID with ongoing support and resources in Spanish. We provide furniture, baby goods, and information on doulas, therapists and legal aid, rest supports and more.
Even though Food Justice DMV has reached over 290,00 people and raised $909,000 the need far outstrips our ability to respond.
Food Justice DMV has a volunteer network and process in place to help address the need, but we need more funding to continue to meet that need. Can you provide $40 to cover food and essentials for a family for 2 weeks? $120 to cover food and medicine? $500 to cover the lion’s share of a volunteer’s deliveries to 5 families? More?
Help us reach everyone on the waitlist and remove one urgent worry from the minds of so many parents trying to do what all parents want to do: care for their children. Gracias !
FUNDRAISER INFO (required by GoFundMe, apologies for any repetition of information already provided above): The organizer is a resident of Washington, DC and a volunteer with Food Justice DMV, an all-volunteer colectiva delivering food and standing in solidarity with thousands of immigrant neighbors. Funds will be distributed as food/basic supplies or grocery gift cards to immigrants Food Justice DMV is in community with.
Importantly, this is not “charity” (which too often disempowers those on the receiving end), but rather a systematic program rooted in justice and the recognition of our shared humanity. Food Justice DMV believes that ALL immigrants have the right to live with dignity, free from the fear of detention and deportation – not just those who are model citizens, or devoted parents, or otherwise remarkable, but for the simple fact that they are human beings. A prerequisite of a life with dignity is access to adequate food.
It began with our founding directora, who remembered Oscar. On the way to an immigration check-in, he had said, “Last time, I had to take a cab and it cost me $150. Then, I had to explain to my 8 year-old daughter why we didn’t have any food.” She reached out to Oscar and discovered that he was running out of food again. Soon, it was clear that Oscar was not alone. We began receiving requests, and the waitlist quickly exploded to 6,600 people.
We don’t just offer food aid. Hyper-local food resource teams bridge the digital divide, coaching people how to find free, accessible food, while teams of volunteers text in-the-moment food distribution info to families nearby. We provide families with COVID with ongoing support and resources in Spanish. We provide furniture, baby goods, and information on doulas, therapists and legal aid, rest supports and more.
Even though Food Justice DMV has reached over 290,00 people and raised $909,000 the need far outstrips our ability to respond.
Food Justice DMV has a volunteer network and process in place to help address the need, but we need more funding to continue to meet that need. Can you provide $40 to cover food and essentials for a family for 2 weeks? $120 to cover food and medicine? $500 to cover the lion’s share of a volunteer’s deliveries to 5 families? More?
Help us reach everyone on the waitlist and remove one urgent worry from the minds of so many parents trying to do what all parents want to do: care for their children. Gracias !
FUNDRAISER INFO (required by GoFundMe, apologies for any repetition of information already provided above): The organizer is a resident of Washington, DC and a volunteer with Food Justice DMV, an all-volunteer colectiva delivering food and standing in solidarity with thousands of immigrant neighbors. Funds will be distributed as food/basic supplies or grocery gift cards to immigrants Food Justice DMV is in community with.
Equipo de recaudación de fondos (13)
Denise Woods
Organizador
Washington D.C., DC
Josh Wenderoff
Team member
Mila Salazar
Team member
Yaquelin Osorio
Team member
Chip Cleary
Team member