South Bay Grocery Chain Helps Raise More Than $100,000 For Immigrant Kids' Legal Representation
SAN JOSE (KCBS)— An San Jose-based Hispanic grocery store chain has helped raise the majority of more than $100,000 to help pay for legal representation of immigrant children detained at the U.S. border.
Shoppers at the 21-store Mi Pueblo Foods chipped in after the store's owner made the appeal for funds less than a month ago.
Store spokeswoman Perla Rodriguez said it's not surprising that that their customers have responded in such a big way.
South Bay Grocery Chain Helps Raise More Than $100,000 For Immigrant Kids' Legal Representation
"Our customers are passionate about children and their families. When they heard about these children needing help, they responded by making contributions at all of our cash registers. We also invited members of the community to support us as well and together, collectively we rose over $100,000," she said.
The money was donated to the organization, Hispanics in Philanthropy. President Diana Campoamor said they'll use that money to hire more attorneys to represent the children.
"We know that when these children have legal representation the likelihood of being granted refugee status is much, much higher. They're scared, they're traumatized by the journey and legal representation is very important to their case," said Campoamor.
