Food drive continues

Fe Y Justica, a local community-based organization, is hosting a food drive to assist immigrant families located in Central Minnesota.

This food drive will also be led by a variety of leaders, volunteers and community members across the Central Minnesota community.

The ELAC group (Exploring Latin American Cultures) at CSB+SJU is hosting a food drive to support Fe Y Justica’s efforts in assisting Central Minnesotan families affected by ICE.

Fe Y Justica is located in Waite Park and is an organization with more than 15 years of community experience.

As a non-profit, their main mission is to empower communities and improve overall quality of life.

Fe Y Justica’s work focuses on training and educating leaders as well as identifying and addressing the most important community needs.

Providing proper training to members is important to Fe Y Justica as their main goal is to have community members that advocate for themselves and others with strength and dignity in environments where decisions are made.

Fe Y Justica is principled on faith and, as a community, strive to bring compassion, justice and kindness to those who live in Central Minnesota.

Exploring Latin American Cultures (ELAC) is assisting with this food drive through school community efforts. ELAC is an organization at CSB+SJU that aims to spread awareness about the Hispanic and Latin American Culture within the campus community.

They also seek to unite Hispanic and Latin American students, creating and fostering a community that is grounded in the Benedictine values for incoming students of similar backgrounds while also welcoming supporters of the Hispanic and Latin American culture.

Fe Y Justica’s food drive began the second week of January, continuing to the present due to community support and commitment as Minnesota has been affected by ICE.

This food drive serves the community by delivering food and essential supplies to immigrant families who have been affected by recent ICE tactics in the Central Minnesota area.

More than five thousand people have been reached through supply and food deliveries.

This is thanks to all the community members, leaders and volunteers who decided to help their neighbors and strengthen the bonds within Central Minnesota.

The Fe Y Justica team thinks that showing support to their nonprofit is important as they are rooted in the community and understand a variety of needs.

None of their work would be possible without its volunteers, leaders and community members willing to help when they can and support Central Minnesota.

Local support builds and strengthens community relations, ensuring resources remain local and benefiting families and individuals who need them most.

The Fe Y Justica team spoke on the importance of supporting nonprofits.

“When people support local nonprofits through donations, volunteering or spreading the word, they are directly investing in their own community. These organizations often fill critical gaps in services, respond quickly in times of crisis and provide culturally responsive support that larger institutions may not be able to offer,” the Fe Y Justica team said.

The team at Fe Y Justica hopes this food drive continues to ease food insecurity for families in the Central Minnesota community while also showing a sense of solidarity and support.

Besides only providing groceries, the team hopes individuals are reminded that they are not alone and that the community stands with them.

“We [also] hope it raises awareness about ongoing needs and inspires more neighbors, volunteers and partners to stay engaged in long-term solutions to hunger and economic hardship,” the Fe Y Justica team said.

The food drive continues with efforts led by the Central Minnesota community and ELAC on the CSB+SJU campus.

Cash or checks can be brought to the Fe Y Justica office in Waite Park, and donations can be brought to the CSB+SJU libraries or the Learning Commons.