Carpinteria Children’s Project Opens “Helping Hands Fund” for Local Families Impacted by Immigration Sweeps

Carpinteria Children’s Project has become a central location for providing assistance to local families who have had their lives upended by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids targeting immigrants and Latino residents in Carpinteria.

To meet critical needs, CCP has created a “Helping Hands Fund” that will be 100 percent dedicated to assisting families who have had members apprehended or who are unable to earn wages or otherwise provide basic needs for their households due to fear and intimidation. 

Carpinteria community members seeking to help local families can donate at https://carpchildren.org/donate/ by selecting “Family Resource Center.” The Funding Goal is $100,000 in order to meet immediate needs. Tax-deductible donations will be restricted to the Helping Hands Fund and earmarked for critical needs including food, clothing, housing assistance, essential supplies and mental health services. 

“Carpinteria families are hurting. We have witnessed inhumane treatment in our community that leaves children without caretakers and responsibly employed residents unable to support their families,” said Teresa Alvarez, CCP Executive Director. “Our organization is fortunate to be able to help local families who might be apprehensive to ask elsewhere, and at the same time, we are connected to the wider fundraising community. We hope to quickly raise $100,000 for dozens of local families who are suffering from recent traumatic events.” 

On July 10, Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents aided by the National Guard apprehended 10 individuals from a greenhouse operation on Highway 150 in Carpinteria. CCP has been in contact with impacted individuals along with two families impacted by the July 7, 8, and 9 apprehensions from Carpinteria streets. The City of Carpinteria has made $10,000 available to aid families through nonprofit partners, but the identified need for local families is much higher. CCP has already been supplying food and supplies to impacted families.

“We’ve seen so much devastation at our doorstep, so we are making sure the community knows CCP is here to carry out our mission to serve every family in the community,” said CCP Board President Michelle Perry. “We have heard calls to action and are the organization that is best prepared to make a difference quickly in Carpinteria. With the help of donors, we hope to begin to restore the peace that has been stolen from so many families.”  

CCP is leading community efforts in coordination with numerous other nonprofits who are networked with local families, such as Girls Inc. of Carpinteria and Carpinteria Boys and Girls Club. When these organizations receive inquiries related to delivering services to impacted families they refer families and volunteers to CCP. 

“We are proud of the outpouring of support Carpinteria has shown, and people have continued to ask us how they can act to help heal so much pain. It is so meaningful for underrepresented neighbors who are hurting to know that their community is here for them and compassion is alive and well,” Alvarez said. 

About the CCP Family Resource Center

Carpinteria Children’s Project operates two core programs — Early Childhood Education and the Family Resource Center — highlighting the importance of Early Learning and Family Services in providing lifelong opportunities for Carpinteria children and families. Donations made to the Family Resource Center will be sequestered in the Helping Hands Fund to have an immediate impact in supporting local impacted families.