Hearts Against Fear: The solidarity network protecting immigrants in Southern California
Katella High School cheerleaders and dance team members bag groceries for community delivery in Anaheim on June 24, 2025. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
One ordinary afternoon on a freeway sparked a chain of kindness among organizations, volunteers, and young people who turned fear into action.
Haga clic aquí para leer este reportaje en español.
Sitting on an empty bucket, behind two pails of colorful floral bouquets, a 70-year-old woman was trying to sell her arrangements. She was short, with sun-tanned brown skin and a maternal gaze. Her face was furrowed with deep wrinkles, a reflection of years of effort and endurance. Sitting on the side of a busy Los Angeles freeway exit, her soul and heart were filled with fear. “I felt like I was stabbed in the throat,” said Tito Rodríguez, describing the moment he saw the woman.
“Hi, ma'am! Let's go, let's go. It's very dangerous to be on the street,” Tito shouted, his heart in his hand, as he turned on his flashing lights and parked his van on the freeway exit. The presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been reported in that area.
“I'll take her home. And I have some friends who want to give her money so she doesn't have to be on the streets,” Tito added as he approached. The woman's fear was clear in the sparkle in her eyes, but she agreed and followed orders. Within seconds, they left the area. On the way home, Tito gave her $800 so she could pay the monthly rent and have some peace of mind.
Tito and the flower vendor crossed paths by chance. That afternoon, the founder and director of the Local Hearts Foundation was returning home after receiving a $10,000 donation for his organization. He wouldn't have been able to do this charitable act without the support of his friends, The Singers, local business owners and frequent donors to the foundation.
Days later, Tito, a community leader known as Hood Santa, ran into three men selling cherries and oranges on a busy Los Angeles street. Concerned for their safety amid reports of ICE in the area, he offered to buy their merchandise and take them home. He paid them $700 for the fruit and gave each of them $200.
These acts of kindness are nothing new for Tito, who has been supporting communities in Los Angeles County for 14 years. Through his foundation, and in collaboration with other organizations, he has provided thousands of families with food, basic supplies, and sometimes non-essential items that bring joy to the soul.
One of his most recent collaborations is with Food Finders, which delivers two pallets of fruits and vegetables every Wednesday to distribute in his communities. Usually, people would come to collect the donations, but on Wednesday, June 11, everything changed.
“We're like vigilantes, but here to do good… We're not hiding, and we're not afraid.”
After several days of ICE raids and hundreds of detainees, many communities came to a standstill for fear of arrest. As a precaution, many stopped leaving their homes, and the Local Hearts Foundation's logistics took a complete turn. Tito's phone froze from the number of messages he began receiving.
"Hey, Tito, we're hungry!" "Can you help me with some groceries?" "I'm afraid to go out." "Can you help me with some food?" "My children were born here, but if I get in trouble, if they catch me, what will happen to my children?" were some of the text messages he received.
"We have to change course, we have to do something different here to feed the affected families," Tito told himself after collecting the donations. "We have to take this food that's arriving and give it to the families who are being affected, to those families who are afraid to go out."
Tito understood that he now had to make home deliveries, right to people's doors. "People who are afraid don't have to expose themselves by going out." He gathered his family and loved ones and began preparing bags of food.
"We're like vigilantes, but here to do good," Tito said. "We're not hiding, and we're not afraid." That day, they prepared more than 200 bags of food.
He gathered information from those asking for help, mapped out routes, and assigned trusted people to make the deliveries with him.
"Here's the information, and when you're done with it, burn it," Tito ordered to protect the identity of his community. That first day, more than 200 families received some relief.
But the calls for help didn't stop the next day, as reports of ICE arrests in Los Angeles County increased. By then, authorities had confirmed at least 330 detainees, not counting the unverified cases. Fear grew minute by minute, and thousands were afraid to leave their homes.
Tito used his social media power to rally his followers. He posted videos preparing bags of food and making deliveries, aiming to inspire and create a support network where the community itself was the protagonist. And so it was.
Within hours, he received a flood of messages of solidarity and empathy: community members wanted to donate money, their time, or whatever was needed. Latino-owned businesses also joined in.
A bakery donated 240 loaves of bread; a butcher shop, 150 pounds of meat and 50 packages of tortillas; a fruit and vegetable store, more than a pallet of fruits and vegetables; and another business, 2,000 pounds of chicken.
Dollar by dollar, donation by donation, the Local Hearts Foundation continues to fill bags of food and deliver them to homes every day. Tito recognizes that the country's future is uncertain, but he and his community will remain present until the need is no longer there.
This wave of community support also touched the hearts of young people. More than 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, in Anaheim, the Katella High School cheerleading and dance teams paused rehearsals to organize and provide relief to Orange County families.
With their red and black uniforms and pom-poms in hand, these groups of students demonstrated that when it comes to serving the community, team spirit also extends off the field.
Cheerleaders and dance team members organize food and essential item donations at Katella High School for community distribution on June 24, 2025. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
For weeks and full of energy, they cheered with their pom-poms as vehicles with donations arrived at the school gymnasium. They unloaded them and took them to the packing area. They did this not out of obligation, but because they understood their community needed them. They are willing to raise their voices, and their pom-poms, for a greater cause. This is their way of protesting.
“They say they want to protest, but they also want to be safe because they are so young,” their coach, Danna Corona, told palabra.
In the middle of the gymnasium, several tables served to separate items: one for drinks, another for groceries, one for toilet paper, and yet another for personal hygiene and household cleaning products.
On one side, dozens of white recyclable bags filled with donations were waiting to be distributed. All bore a personalized message.
“You matter, even when everything feels overwhelming,” reads one message. “Believe in the power of your resilience. You have the strength to overcome any storm,” reads another. All to encourage people not to give up.
Donated food and essentials being sorted in a Katella High School classroom on June 24, 2025. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
Cheerleaders and dance team members at Katella High School write encouraging messages for grocery recipients. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
The idea of holding a community fundraiser and transforming the gym into a collection and distribution center came from Coach Corona, but was sparked by her sister Sarah, a volunteer on the team.
Seeing the fear in her community, Sarah proposed putting together care packages for families affected by the sociopolitical situation.
“Our school has a large population that is being affected, both families and neighbors, and other members of the surrounding community,” Danna said. “We’ve had people on our team who have had difficulty getting to practice because their parents haven’t been able to drive them to school.”
“We know they’re afraid. What we feel most from them is fear. They want to be safe, they want to keep their children safe,” she continued. “It’s affecting everyone on a personal, physical, and emotional level.”
Katella High School cheer coach Danna Corona and her sister, assistant coach Sarah Corona, deliver groceries in Anaheim, June 24, 2025. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
The Corona sisters have delivered daily groceries to families since ICE raids began in June 2025. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
Cheer coach Danna Corona, left, and assistant coach Sarah Corona started the grocery delivery program at Katella High School. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
Some students were forced to become heads of households overnight.
“I have a couple of students whose family members were detained during the raids. Now they have to shift their focus from education to supporting their siblings, staying home, and taking on the role of caregiver. They are in survival mode,” said Katella High School assistant principal Ángel Acosta, principal of the high school during the summer session.
The fear and uncertainty have been such that at least one family has chosen to voluntarily return to their home country.
“It’s sad. They’ve withdrawn their children from school and told me they’re going back to Mexico,” said Acosta.
The impact is not only reflected in enrollment but also in the personal stories that leave a deep mark on the school community.
“Honestly, it really discourages me. That’s not what we want for our families, especially in our district. We want to make sure they are supported, that we provide services, and meet their needs. But this is out of our control,” he continued.
The Katella High dance team shows community spirit by supporting Anaheim immigrants. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
The principal asserts that he works with the affected families to support them. In addition, the school has a social worker who also provides socioemotional support for trauma.
Adds Danna, “We hope to not only provide physical supplies, but also offer mental health resources, support for planning situations, as well as information and resources on immigration.”
Beyond logistical support, Mr. Acosta's message to his students is clear and hopeful:
“Don't let the ignorance of others limit your potential. You are resilient. You are strong. Keep doing what you're doing. You have a school here that will support you regardless of your status.”
This unconditional support is not only evident within the school but has also resonated beyond the classroom thanks to the power of social media.
Cheerleaders practice in the Katella High gym after preparing grocery bags for community distribution. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
Danna and Acosta agree that, in difficult times, solidarity online has been key. They assert that they would not have achieved so much without this tool. Although their Instagram account had only a few hundred followers, the image with information about the food collection and distribution was shared more than 450 times. Many community members and local businesses reached out to offer their support.
Support the voices of independent journalists.
|
A supermarket chain donated several pallets of food to support the cause. Other local organizations and businesses also contacted the school to offer their support, demonstrating how a simple post can mobilize a network of solidarity within hours.
The cheerleading and dance groups, with support from the faculty, will continue to receive donations and organize food distributions for those in need, with the commitment to continue until the need is no longer there.
The care packages have been delivered discreetly to protect those affected, and they assure that they will continue to do so to protect their identities. “We're not asking for names, numbers, or any other information. We just want an address where we can deliver a package. We'll leave it outside your door, and you can come pick it up whenever you feel comfortable,” Danna stressed.
A donated bag with food and essentials is delivered to a home in Anaheim. Photo by Karla Gachet for palabra
Just like the Local Hearts Foundation and the Katella High School cheerleading and dance teams, there are organizations across the country delivering bags of food to anyone in need, no questions asked.
Because as long as there is fear, there will be hearts willing to face it. And arms that reach out not only to carry supplies, but to support those who feel like the world is falling apart.
In every delivery, in every message of encouragement, there is a promise: you are not alone. Even if the future seems uncertain, this invisible network of solidarity continues to grow, woven by hands that don't know each other, but that recognize each other's needs.
And as long as that network remains alive, no act of kindness will be in vain. Because in times of fear, compassion is also contagious.
—
Andrés H. Martínez is a journalist, writer, and content creator with experience in local newsrooms and national storytelling initiatives. He currently freelances for palabra and other media organizations, serves as Treasurer for NAHJ Los Angeles, and is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. @andres_h_mtz
Karla Gachet is an Ecuadorian visual storyteller who has documented the Latin American diaspora for nearly 20 years, focusing on culture, territory, Indigenous rights, migration, and environmental issues. Her work has been published in National Geographic Magazine, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, and recognized by World Press Photo, POY, and POY Latam. In 2023, she received a National Geographic Explorer grant to lead a group project on cumbia across the Americas. Gachet is also an editor and mentor to emerging photographers and a member of Ayün Fotógrafas, a collective of women visual storytellers connected to Latin America. For nine years, she has documented Latinx and Native American communities in the United States. @kchete77
Patricia Guadalupe, raised in Puerto Rico, is a bilingual multimedia journalist based in Washington, D.C., and is the interim managing editor of palabra. She has been covering the capital for both English- and Spanish-language media outlets since the mid-1990s and previously worked as a reporter in New York City. She’s been an editor at Hispanic Link News Service, a reporter at WTOP Radio (CBS Washington affiliate), a contributing reporter for CBS Radio network, and has written for NBC News.com and Latino Magazine, among others. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and has a Master’s degree from the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. She is the former president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of NAHJ and is an adjunct professor at American University in the nation’s capital and the Washington semester program of Florida International University. @PatriciagDC