This is a situation I never thought we would be experiencing, but we can no longer do this alone.
My family operates a small Mexican grocery store in Minnesota. Since 2016 we’ve always held the mission to create a place of stability that fosters community and celebrates the Latin-American diversity of this grand state—not just to sell tacos and pan dulce.
This week, our store has experienced one active crisis after another. Two of our employees were violently detained by ICE: one of them was on his way to start his shift when he was slammed to the ground by agents; the other had her car windows broken as she was leaving work to interview for a second job, torn away from her underage kids. Several of our employees have been facing impacts by the sudden loss of income, fear, and uncertainty, made worse by these violent incidents.
We kept our team safe through the pandemic, but we can no longer keep them safe from these traumatizing operations. Despite federal agents harassing us and our customers daily over the past two months, we’ve tried to continue providing essential services to our surrounding communities. We can no longer sustain our business and employees. Families who rely on steady paychecks, are now struggling to cover basic needs.
I’m asking for help because the situation is urgent.
Our goal is to provide temporary support & emergency relief to El Hornito Supermercado’s affected employees and their families during these times of instability and wage-loss.
These donations are to be allocated for:
- Food, Groceries, Diapers, & other basic household needs
- Housing & Utilities
- Transportation
- Medical Essentials
- Legal Fees for detained employees
These are hardworking people who show up every day with hope and commitment. They are essential to our small business and deeply connected to our community. Right now, they need support to get through an incredibly destabilizing moment as we continue to navigate this crisis together.
Every donation matters.
I’m asking as the daughter of this business, as a Minnesota-raised community member, and as someone who believes that when people are hurting—no matter the weather—we show up for one another.
Thank you for your compassion, your generosity, and your hope during this dark time❤️