Minneapolis Church Mobilizes Massive Food Drive as ICE Operations Leave Families Afraid to Leave Home

As immigration enforcement operations continue in Minneapolis, a South Minneapolis church is mobilizing a massive community response to help families who say fear is preventing them from leaving their homes.

At Iglesia Dios Hablo Hoy, also known as DHH Church, hundreds of volunteers have stepped up to organize and distribute food and essential supplies to families impacted by ongoing ICE operations in the city. Many of those receiving help say they are afraid to go to work, shop for groceries, or leave their homes at all.

Pastor Sergio Amezcua says the need became urgent after ICE agents first arrived in December. Families began calling the church, unsure of where to turn. Volunteers now work daily to sort donations ranging from rice and beans to granola bars, cookies, and diapers. The church is currently distributing up to 70,000 pounds of food each week.

Amezcua says the situation resembles a disaster response, but describes it as a mental and emotional crisis rather than a natural one. He notes that the families affected include U.S. citizens as well as people living in the country legally.

The church expanded its efforts even further when local food banks closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, prompting an urgent call for help. Within hours, donations and volunteers poured in from across Minnesota.

Community members say the effort is about showing up for neighbors during a time of fear and uncertainty. Volunteers stress that helping does not require special skills, only a willingness to take part.

The church continues to register families in need and deliver supplies directly to homes, offering relief as ICE operations and community concerns persist.

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