A network of businesses and organizations around downtown Anoka has sprung up to assemble food and supplies for immigrant families that are fearful to go in public due to recent immigration enforcement activity around the area.
Thus far, it has culminated with the appearance of Gov. Tim Walz and first lady Gwen at the First Congregational Church in downtown Anoka.
Reverend Chris McArdle credited Parents for Good with starting the effort, saying it had begun around ten days ago with a couple of tubs set out at Avant Garden for people to donate to a mutual aid pantry.
“It blew up quickly to the point where they needed a much larger storage space to store everything,” McArdle said.
On Friday, at the church, over 500 people assisted during the day. McArdle added that Avant Garden and Bad Wolf Gaming also lent support, as well as the community organization ISAIAH.
McArdle said that he found out 24 hours in advance that Walz and the state’s first were attending, with the governor making contact through ISAIAH.
“The place just erupted,” McArdle said. “The vast majority of people had no idea. They were surprised, delighted, excited-I announced the special guest (Walz) on the PA and everyone just went (makes excited noise.)”
“They reached out to Parents For Good,” Sheighlyn Berbig, who works with Parents For Good, said. “They wanted to be in touch with the community. We set it up, I think they got a few things and knew what to expect when they got here. It was a very smooth process.”
Walz and Gwen both addressed the crowd, with McArdle adding that he thought the appearance had made an impact on him, judging from his Saturday press conference.
Indeed, Walz, at a press conference following the fatal shooting death of Alex Pretti at the hands of an immigration officer, said that demonstrations that were on the streets of the state were the “best” of the state.
“And I attended, in a church basement, hundreds of Minnesotans from all faiths packing care packages for families that have been ripped apart,” Walz said. “Despite the horrific acts of this federal government, Minnesotans are standing up for the rule of law, they’re protesting loudly and urgently. It must stay that way, Minnesota.”
McArdle said that they would keep hosting the mutual aid effort as long as there was a need.
“As long as ICE is still in Minnesota and engaged in unconstitutional actions, we will keep feeding people,” McArdle said. “We will be the storehouse for all of that.”
Berbig said that they had been taking in food and supplies for around a week and a half. She said that they had partnered with around a dozen organizations to get food out to 150 families.
“The support from the community has been extraordinary,” Berbig said.
Berbig said that, because they hadn’t been able to keep all of the tables clean at Avant Garden, they had since added locations to the effort. Despite this, even places with less traffic are making multiple trips a day.
“At Avant, someone will go and there will be three to four truckloads at times,” Berbig said. “People are desperate to help in any way they can. They’re desperate for something to do, they see how bad things are and they are desperate to do anything to help.”
Chase McAllister with Bad Wolf Adventure Studios said that they had begun participating on January 17th, and that the community reception had been outstanding-at almost all hours of the day, people were bringing in a wide range of materials.{/span}
McAllister said that Bad Wolf would continue to support the community however they could, adding that they were active in both charity as well as partners like Avant Garden. They will also work with players and customers to support being community driven and to “back our rights.”
“As I speak to you now, I see people coming inside to bring material in,” McAllister said. “It’s been a clear and decisive message of support.”