TODEC hosts Valentine’s day food drive to help immigrant families in need

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) - The TODEC Legal Center hosted a Valentine's Day food drive Friday morning aimed at helping immigrant families in need.

The event provided free groceries and essential items that may assist impacted families. The suggested items include: corn tortillas, beans, rice, canned chicken, baby wipes, and hygiene products.

"We had two full car loads, I backed up 50 pounds of rice and beans, and hundreds of hundreds of canned foods," said Leah Aguayo, co-founder of Indivisible Morongo Basin.

Aguayo says the food drive is another way to give back while organizing more protests. "We protest every Sunday at the entrance to Joshua Tree park, we can have anywhere from one-hundred to four-hundred people. We got the word out that this Valentine day food drive was happening," said Aguayo.

Todec organizers say around 3,000 families each month seek help due to immigration enforcement concerns.

"We're very thankful and we're very honored and very proud of our Coachella Valley. How people continue to step up for those that are very vulnerable at these times, that are suffering and having so much trauma," said Luz Gallegos, Todec executive director.