Archbishop Jos\u00e9 Gomez has launched a program Wednesday to offer aid to families who have been impacted by immigration enforcement raids across Southern California.<\/p>\n
The Family Assistance Program will administer aid directly to individual parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as they work to provide groceries, meals and prescription deliveries to those affected.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are, in many of our parishes, the number of people coming is less than it was before because they are afraid,\u201d Gomez told NBC Los Angeles. \u201cThey are afraid to go to the grocery store. They are afraid to go to church. They are afraid to go out because they don’t know what is gonna happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program enables ongoing assistance and direct support to support its over 200 parishes in their work to distribute aid in the \u201cmost effective and compassionate way possible,\u201d Chief Development Officer Catherine Fraser said. The assistance will vary by parish.<\/p>\n
With grassroots fundraising happening in every parish, Fraser estimates the program has raised well over $100,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Businessman Rick Caruso joined Gomez at St. Patrick\u2019s Church to announce a $50,000 donation to the fund, emphasizing his support of a path to citizenship and comprehensive immigration reform.<\/p>\n
The Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company has also donated toys for the children, and Vallarta Supermarkets has contributed 10,000 grocery gift cards.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those in need of assistance can contact their local parish, or find a parish by zip code on LA Catholics\u2019 website<\/a>, regardless of their religious traditions. Donations to the program can also be made online<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot just pass by and notice when people are in distress,\u201d said Fr. Timothy Dyer, pastor at St. Patrick\u2019s.<\/p>\n Gomez said the federal government\u2019s raids are challenging the \u201ccity\u2019s historic identity and the church\u2019s religious mission,\u201d and called for federal immigration reform.\u00a0<\/p>\n He added that the diocese is expecting raids in its parishes and schools.<\/p>\n The recent immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California are part of President Trump’s campaign promise to carry out a mass deportation plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n The administration has highlighted arrests involving undocumented individuals with violent crime convictions. Those who have been caught up in the nationwide raids include asylum seekers, people who overstayed their visas and migrants awaiting their day in immigration court.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very painful and very sad that they cannot come to church on Sundays because this is what gives them the strength to continue in their families in the way they do things in their daily lives,\u201d Gomez said.<\/p>\n