Route 1 Group Delivers Groceries to Immigrant Families Amid Deportations

An informal group of Route 1 residents has been delivering groceries to immigrant families worried about going out in public amid a mass deportation effort by the Trump administration.

Route 1 Mutual Aid spun off from the local Indivisible Route 1 Corridor chapter at the end of October with a goal of helping families affected by the government shutdown. After starting as the “Feeding Task Force,” the group changed its name to address a broader range of crises.

When the shutdown ended, Route 1 Mutual Aid shifted its focus to assisting dozens of immigrant families, which it continues through weekly grocery deliveries supported by in-kind donations, partnerships with local organizations, and donations from community members.

Stephanie DeLorenzo, a Hyattsville resident who helped start the group, told the Wire that its internal listserv now has 200 email addresses, but dozens of others volunteer and donate consistently through other email lists, Facebook groups, and Instagram.

Route 1 Mutual Aid is currently partnering with the Prince George’s and Montgomery County Immigrants Rights Collectives, which provide services to residents who have had a family member detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It’s also partnering with the Prince George’s Community College to help students who are taking ESOL, GED and citizenship classes, and both Denizens Brewing Co. and Vigilante Coffee are serving as donation drop sites. The group also has a “Porch Ambassador” program for people who want to run mini food drives to support it.

The group had originally planned to run until February as a short-term program, but they recently decided to continue running indefinitely.

To donate, volunteer or join the Route 1 Mutual Aid listserv, check out its website or follow them on Instagram.

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