U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrived in Charlotte, Saturday, Nov. 15. Over the past five days, agents arrested more than 250 people across the city.
Border Patrol agents are conducting operations in immigrant corridors, including South Boulevard, Central Avenue and Archdale Drive. Many businesses in these areas have closed temporarily to protect families, and many residents are staying home out of fear of being detained.
Nonprofits and community members across the city have taken action to help neighbors affected by the “Charlotte’s Web Operation.”
Below is a list of organizations you can support or volunteer with to help those in your community, links to their website, and a description of their needs.
If you are a nonprofit organization or if you know of any organizations that are looking for volunteers and support, please fill out this form, and WFAE will add them to this list.
Circle de Luz
Circle de Luz is providing food and household essentials, safe transportation, bilingual resources, and navigation support to Latino families.
We are collecting food (non perishable donations), household and personal care essentials (such as period pads, toilet paper, soap, cleaning products, etc).
A complete list can be found on the Circle de Luz Instagram. Click here for more information.
To arrange a drop off please use this form or email contact@circledeluz.org.
International House
Location: 1611 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
International House offers ESL classes, immigration representation for Non-Detained clients, and a resource hub that helps navigate a variety of complex systems, like applying for health insurance, enrolling in school, applying for jobs, and more.
There are several upcoming volunteer opportunities to assess the needs of our students and clients after CBP raids. International House is hosting a food drive in December for hundreds of refugee/asylee clients that will no longer receive SNAP. The organization is always looking for volunteers and interns to support all programs.
For more information, email Liz Zipperer at Lzipperer@ihclt.org.
Support Charlotte Latino Families in Need Drive
Location: 9607 Idlewild Rd, Mint Hill NC 28277
Hours: Saturday, Nov. 22, 9 a.m.- 1p.m.
Community members in the east Charlotte area are hosting a food drive this Saturday and are requesting donations of non-perishable foods, grains, shelf-stable proteins, ready-to-eat items, and essential household products.
They are also accepting monetary contributions to support the effort. To contribute, click here.
For more information about the drive, click here to view the organizers’ full Instagram post.
CharlotteEAST
CharlotteEAST has been compiling a comprehensive list of community resources, which include information on training, hotlines, know your rights resources, volunteer opportunities and more. The group has also compiled a list of impacted businesses in the Eastland area that the community can support.
To learn more, click here.
The group has also created a form that small businesses that have closed due to CBP presence in Charlotte can fill out to receive monetary support.
ourBRIDGE for KIDS
Location: Charlotte is Home Center, 3400 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
ourBRIDGE for KIDS is collecting food donations for families and the drop off location has switched from Nourish Up back to the original location, the Charlotte is Home Center.
Items of need include non-perishable food items such as sugar, maseca, potatoes, rice, beans and lentils, canned tuna, ramen, pet food and more.
Other items of need include toilet paper, paper towels, diapers and baby wipes.
Monetary donations are also needed so the team can purchase food items to meet the needs of families.
To learn more about donation needs, click here to see their full Instagram post.
Latin American Coalition
The Latin American Coalition is seeking monetary donations from the community to help provide families with food assistance, personal hygiene items, household supplies, and ongoing virtual mental health and legal support.
Click here to learn more and give.
Carolina Migrant Network
Carolina Migrant Network has a rapid response support form that people and organizations can fill out and provide information about what resources and help they can offer. If you are interested, fill out the form here.
The organization also has information regarding your rights, an ICE hotline number where you can call and report an ICE sighting and more. For additional resources, click here.
Carolina Migrant Network is also seeking monetary donations to continue to provide free legal representation, community education and other services.
To give, click here.
East Mecklenburg High School Parent Teacher Student Organization
Location: 6800 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28212
Hours: Monday through Friday 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
The East Mecklenburg High School Parent Teacher Student Organization is hosting a food drive and is asking for donations of non-perishable foods, including canned meats, nut butter, soups, pasta, rice, grains, flour, sugar, oil, spices, personal hygiene products and feminine hygiene products.
They are asking for donations to be dropped off at the main office. You can also contribute monetarily here.
Despierta
Despierta, an organization serving Latino students and their families in Charlotte is seeking monetary donations to help with transportation support, food and groceries, emergency financial assistance, mental health and legal support.
The organization also has an Emergency Amazon list with items of need for families. Click here to view the list.
Despierta asks that community members contact their team directly to coordinate physical donations.
For more information, view their full Instagram post.
Siembra NC
Siembra NC has a hotline number (336-543-0353) that community members can call and alert of suspected ICE activity. Verified ICE activity will be shared with the community.
More information here.
Thrift Pony
Location: 1824 Statesville Ave #103, Charlotte, NC
Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Thrift Pony, a thrift and consignment store located in Camp North End, announced on their Instagram Monday that it will be donating 25% of sales through the end of the week to the Carolina Migrant Network.
Donation Drop Off at the Noughty Pony Holiday Vintage Market
Location: 3000 S Tryon St., Charlotte NC
Hours: Sunday, Nov. 30, 12-6 p.m.
THE NOUGHTIES EDIT, a thrift and fashion organization, will be collecting winter coats, toiletries, non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, baby formula, and toilet paper to support immigrant families in need.
Click here to learn more.
Additional Resources
Below are other organizations in Charlotte and the services they provide to support immigrant neighbors.
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy provides legal support and services to immigrants and their families.
For more information, click here.
Compare Foods
Location: All nine locations in the Charlotte area
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Compare Foods Charlotte is offering free delivery and pickup through Dec.31 to protect immigrants in the community.
Shoppers can use the code NOFEE2025 at compareclt.com to receive free delivery and pickup.
