In the wake of heightened immigration enforcement in Charlotte, a community-driven initiative has transformed Jana Schaefer’s home into a bustling hub for volunteers. The first-floor spare room now serves as a food pantry, filled with essentials like canned goods and baby formula. Outside, bags brim with supplies, ready for distribution. Volunteer Heather Dinolfo explains their process: “We’re putting in paper towels and toilet paper because those are items that are always needed.”
Inside, Schaefer coordinates the logistical aspects, managing requests and guiding her team. “We are packing food boxes and we are sending people out to deliver them to people’s doorsteps,” she shared. The urgency stems from fear within the community, as families are hesitant to leave their homes due to recent Border Patrol activities.
This grassroots effort, initiated by a group of South Charlotte parents, quickly escalated in response to concerns about families isolating themselves. With a simple online form, they’ve mobilized resources to deliver around 500 food boxes, ensuring the privacy of involved school communities due to immigration enforcement anxieties.
Schaefer emphasized the importance of local action, stating, “I think it is important because it is our immediate community… We as a community cannot just sit by while people go hungry and babies don’t have formula.”
As immigration officers patrolled in unmarked vehicles, parents became key figures in community support, offering a friendly face outside schools and organizing similar food drives. In other parts of Charlotte, parents have stood vigil at schools, ensuring the safety and comfort of students.
Volunteer Whitney Blumenthal has been transporting three students daily, overcoming initial trust barriers. “I was pinning Air Tags on a stranger’s kids as the sun came up last Wednesday morning,” she recounted. Over the week, shared rides and meals have fostered trust and friendship.
The initiative arose partly due to the significant number of school absences. Blumenthal emphasized the urgency: “It was like, OK, we need to find a way to get these babies to school and we need to get food in their bellies.”
While supporters of the enforcement claim it targets only criminals, Schaefer argues the broader impact is detrimental. “I think when a group of people is too afraid to leave their doors, that is, that is just wrong,” she said. “That is a humanitarian issue.”
As operations continue, the volunteer base is set to move out of Schaefer’s residence, marking a new phase in their mission. Monday saw an uptick in school ride requests, indicating persistent community apprehension despite reports of Border Patrol’s departure.
