When a Florida Christian organization created an initiative to provide backpacks full of necessities and comfort items to children whose parents have been detained or deported by federal immigration officials, its goal was twofold.
The first priority was obvious—to provide aid to children in need. The second was to activate Christians, especially White or English-speaking evangelicals, in aiding immigrants as mass deportations have ramped up, organizers said.
Since May, people from eight churches have purchased items for, packed, and then prayed over 103 backpacks before they were distributed through four partner community organizations in direct service to immigrant families. The churches were organized by the Central Florida Micah Movement, an Orlando-area Christian network formed in the last year to stand in solidarity with immigrants, inspired by the biblical command to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”
