Johannes Favi Toy Drive: Families Belong Together

My name is Johannes Favi. I am the father of three children, ages 5, 2, and a 1 year old. I was detained by ICE  for 10 months in Kankakee Illinois, Jerome Combs Detention Center, which left my wife as the family's sole caretaker and breadwinner. I missed the birth of my son and my daughter's first steps, and I couldn't afford to send them holiday gifts while I was being detained. 

With the help of The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), I am blessed to be free and with my children this year! I’m grateful to be in a position to ask you to help me to ensure that the children of detained immigrants don’t go without presents this year at Christmastime. 

Connect Kankakee in partnership with NIJC want to help families with a loved one detained in our local jails to send them gift cards. These kids belong to our communities and should have the opportunity to receive toys and feel joy at Christmastime.

Please help support this effort by donating any amount you can. If you cannot donate, it is just as helpful to spread the word and share this fundraiser  on social media. This help will be much appreciated!


Families belong together!


By contracting with ICE, Kankakee county is complicit in all family separations here and at the southern border. ICE detains people who have come to the U.S. legally seeking asylum and those who have been here for years, contributing to their communities and raising children. Holding people in detention who are not a public threat and without the guarantee of legal representation is not humane. This Christmas gift drive is a step to demonstrate a level of humanity and respect missing from our immigration system. 


For more ways on how to be involved in the reduction of mass detention and help for those unfairly detained, please contact us!