California Community Foundation Establishes Fund to Help Families, Businesses Affected by Los Angeles County Immigration Raids

LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Community Foundation has established a new fund to support Los Angeles County nonprofit groups that are providing aid amid what it calls a "humanitarian crisis" caused by immigration raids in local communities. 

"This is not about the politics of the recent events, but their effect on people who have lost a loved one, their source of income, and are terrified," said California Community Foundation President and CEO Miguel A. Santana. 

Santana said the fund is meant to stabilize communities and aid families in the same way previous CCF funds have helped during the pandemic, wildfires, and other crises and disasters. "When stores, schools and streets empty out, vibrant neighborhoods become ghost towns. Fear sets off a cycle of despair. This is about Angelenos helping Angelenos," he added.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, which distributes food from multiple locations, has seen a recent rise in requests for food delivery, a service it provides for those who can not leave their homes. In the past week, large numbers of volunteers have donated canned goods and other items for care packages. The YMCA delivers groceries, diapers, frozen meals and other essentials.

"Every child and family should feel safe and supported. We have seen a recent increase in the demand for food security, essential items, and mental health support services, and the Y continues to address these community needs," said President and CEO Victor Dominguez. 

As agents detain residents for alleged immigration violations, there are devastating effects on families, schools, businesses and community gathering places. Residents fearing arrest are staying in their homes rather than risk being in public to carry out essential activities like work, taking children to school, grocery shopping and medical appointments. Other families struggle financially when a breadwinner is jailed or afraid to go to work. 

Small businesses are also suffering as workers and customers stay home out of fear.

Rudy Espinoza, CEO of Inclusive Action for the City, said his group has been providing cash assistance to families of street vendors who are not working due to the raids. Espinoza said the relief work is similar to what the group did during the wildfires and their immediate aftermath. In addition to the need for more money to provide those vendors and families, Espinoza said "the brick and mortar stores where the vendors shop for supplies have lost their clientele." 

The L.A. Neighbors Support Fund will provide grants to organizations to quickly scale up their support for communities in need. 

Community organizations have been visiting homes of families with detained members to deliver groceries, and provide cash assistance. But the scale of need is far greater than the funding and staff they have available to help. 

Espinoza said groups like his "are trying to meet the moment by working extra hours, taking on extra projects, and organizations on the front lines need to be resourced for this work. They are the first responders. In an ideal world we wouldn't be doing this." 

Gloria Medina, executive director of SCOPE, a South Los Angeles-based economic justice group, said her staff has been providing groceries to 100 families with whatever they and volunteers can come up with. The food bags contain rice, beans, peanut butter, bread and pasta because the organization does not have a refrigerator. Staff and volunteers use their own cars to make deliveries. With additional funding, Medina said SCOPE could double the number of families it serves by renting a truck and having more money for groceries. She said with additional funds they could also provide diapers and wipes.

"We begin to heal with each wellness visit and each bag of groceries we deliver," Medina said. 

Media Contact: Peter Hong, phong@calfund.org, 213-452-6233

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SOURCE California Community Foundation