Work has not slowed down

Taylor Durry

6/30/20262 min read

Hello everyone! Things have been really busy lately, and the work has not slowed down even a little bit. I haven’t been posting here as much, but I wanted to share a bright spot from this week and also an opportunity for our community to step up and help, so I hope you’ll read to the end.

Yesterday, we got a call that a judge had ordered the immediate release of a father who had spent the past six months in ICE detention, separated from his family. His family is one that we have been walking alongside, supporting with rental assistance, food, and support in many other ways throughout this incredibly difficult season.

Because of that call, we were able to drive to Whipple and bring him home to his family. Watching him reunite with his wife and children after six months apart was incredibly emotional and a reminder of both the resilience of this family and the pain they have carried over the past six months.

Moments like this remind me that community matters. This happened because so many people stepped up through donations, food deliveries, rides, check-ins, legal support, and simply refusing to let this family walk through this alone.

Yesterday was also spent driving around Dakota County delivering food and checking in with families. I wanted to invite more people to be part of this work if you’re able or interested. I’m hearing from community leaders that food deliveries have slowed significantly in recent months, and recruiting enough people to deliver food through La Viña has been difficult. As a result, not everyone who needs food delivered is receiving it. Additionally, many churches that previously delivered food bags from The Open Door have slowed or stopped deliveries altogether.

In recent weeks, increased immigration enforcement activity has caused a great deal of fear within many families. We have been supporting families who stayed hidden in their homes for months, finally returned to work, and then experienced the detention of a family member at a job site. Many are now afraid to leave their homes, have lost their primary source of income, and are trying to figure out how to care for their children and keep a roof over their heads.

I would love to organize a more consistent food delivery network across Dakota County. If there is an area where you live and feel passionate about helping, and you would be comfortable picking up food and delivering it to families in that community, I would love to connect with you. I am happy to find a food pickup location, coordinate times, and build a schedule together.

If you’re interested, please comment below or send me a message.

- Taylor