Women on the Border is raising money for two organizations engaged in direct compassionate action for asylum-seekers and other immigrants in our communities who have been affected by the pandemic shutdowns.

One nonprofit is located in Austin, TX, the other in Du Page County, west of Chicago, Illinois. These groups are providing direct relief to people who were fired from low-wage jobs, have no savings, and cannot qualify for federal stimulus benefits.

1. The Austin Sanctuary Network (ASN)

ASN operates through two volunteer groups. The Campaign Team helps migrants living in sanctuary in two local churches to avoid deportation. Alirio, Hilda and her son Ivan need help paying for cell phones and contributions to the church’s grocery costs. The Accompaniment Team, which usually drives asylum seekers to Immigration Court in San Antonio, is now coordinating with Food Not Bombs to buy groceries and help pay rent and utilities for about 16 families in the Austin area.

2. Immigrant Solidarity DuPage (ISD)

ISD is a nonprofit whose mission in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois is to educate, organize and mobilize around rights and struggles of the Latinx community. During the pandemic ISD is fighting to protect workers who can’t qualify for any federal aid. ISD runs food pantry distributions in collaboration with local churches, distributes housing assistance stipends and provides financial aid to immigrant owned businesses who have suffered devastating economic losses due to the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19.