St. Louis volunteers lead the way as immigration advocacy groups deal with vast needs

St. Louis Public Radio | By Chad Davis
Published July 7, 2026 at 5:00 a.m. CDT

[…] Abide in Love’s St. Louis chapter grew out of the Rolla chapter last year. The organization focuses on a few critical needs, including providing food to families when a loved one has been detained or faces deportation. The group formed after hearing from other advocacy groups that provide services like legal support but can’t meet all of immigrant families’ needs, Abide in Love St. Louis President Chris DePalma said.

“The gap is the families who are left behind when their loved one is detained by ICE,” DePalma said.

DePalma said volunteers reach out to the families of those who were deported, making sure they can pay rent, checking if the children have food and delivering care packages. The group also started a reunification team whose volunteers help families get plane tickets and passports to follow a loved one who's been deported.

All donations go to the families at risk, many of whom are referred to them through the St. Louis Rapid Response Hotline. It was formed last year by the St. Louis Rapid Response Coalition, a group of immigration advocacy groups across the St. Louis area, including the Ashrei Foundation. […]