WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) — The intensifying immigration enforcement in the Chicago region has left many residents feeling anxious about engaging in everyday activities.
This anxiety extends to routine tasks like grocery shopping.
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In response, a local entrepreneur in Waukegan has transformed his hair salon into a community food pantry.
The inspiration for this initiative came just a week ago.
D’Marco, one of the city’s most established hair salons, saw a significant decline in business following the implementation of Operation Midway Blitz.
Owners realized that if clients were hesitant to leave their homes for haircuts, they were likely avoiding other public places such as workplaces and grocery stores as well.
A truck full of 50-pound bags of rice and beans, all donated, made its way into what until last Friday operated as a Waukegan hair salon.
On Thursday, the chairs and stores of hair products were replaced with a non-stop, all-volunteer operation with a single focus: feeding the scores of families living in the U.S. without legal permission who are now too afraid to leave their homes.
There are children suffering, says Marco Salcedo, who for 30 years has run D’Marco hair salon.
For years they’ve sustained his business. Now it’s his turn to give back, he said in Spanish.
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“We’re trying to put, you know, a complete bag with eggs, bread, meat, if we have, cereal, cookies, beans, rice,” volunteer Maria González said.
The multi-pronged operation starts with volunteers sorting through donations and packing them up.
Miriam Treviño drove from Racine, Wisconsin to help out.
“I was in the same situation once before. I’m a U.S. citizen right now, but before I was the same, an immigrant,” Treviño said.
Then there are the volunteer drivers who deliver the meals to those who put in their requests through the hair salon’s Facebook page, making sure they’re not being followed by immigration enforcement agents is also part of the job.
“They’re not supposed to knock the doors. Cause a lot of people are scared, they don’t open,” González said.
The demand, says Salcedo, is high. The food is out the door nearly as soon as it comes in. Hundreds of grocery bags are being delivered every day.
Donations are coming in from individuals, but also from businesses in the area. And it’s not just food, but other essentials, like diapers. Pet food is also delivered to those who ask for it.
“It’s very inspirational what Marco has done so far. There’s a lot of people, people with businesses, helping them,” Abraham Cruz said.
Salcedo said, “It smells of onion and garlic in here now. But I am happy to do this.”
With the sheer amount of food donations threatening to overwhelm the hair salon, Salcedo says he’s now looking for someone to donate warehouse space so they can better accommodate not just all the food, but his small army of volunteers.
