Support the Valerio family

Please help support the Valerio family—kind, loving, and contributing members of our Central Coast community. In the past six months, both their parents were deported (father in August and mother at the beginning of this new year), despite having committed no crime other than looking for a better life in the United States twenty-five years ago—the true American dream. Their three US-born children are now left to live in a country that senselessly expelled their parents, extinguishing that dream. (Meanwhile, the Statue of Liberty, her flame put out, weeps.)

Their youngest child, a minor, is a student and cheerleader at AGHS; their second, nineteen-years-old, is a student and actor at Allan Hancock College; and their first is a twenty-three-year-old medical assistant living in San Diego. The oldest is trying to find a job and move to the Central Coast to support her siblings, but with their major income-earners suddenly and forcibly removed, times are tough for the Valerio family.

Thousands of people—from political leaders to neighbors to total strangers—rallied in support of the family before their mother was deported, testifying to her positive roles working as a hotel maid, Sunday School teacher, homeowner, and loving mother. But their pleas fell on unhearing ears.

Now is a chance to tangibly support the Valerio family. If the government will not listen to the pleas of the community, the community will rise up to support its own. The Valerios are trying to keep their house, so as to not further uproot their lives. They also have to figure out how to pay for groceries, healthcare, college tuition, utilities, and all the other monthly bills now that their parents are gone.

Anyone who knows the family can testify to how extraordinarily kind and generous that they are, and all the good they do for the community just by being here. 

Let's return some of that kindness and generosity, and help their children stay here. For good. 

Any donation, no matter how small or large, helps. All money will go directly to the Valerio family, and they asked me to express their profound gratitude for the support of the community—" for all the help and concern they've shown throughout this whole situation and that it's made this a lot easier to handle."

Click for articles with more information on their story:

"SLO County mom got to celebrate Christmas with her kids. Now, she may be deported"

"Undocumented Grover Beach mother deported despite community rallying in her support"

"A mother from Grover Beach faces deportation in January"

Thank you!