In San Francisco, as in other cities, the lines at food pantries, pawnshops, and free markets have been growing due to the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
For many Latinx immigrants in those lines, the virus is particularly complicated and toxic. Immigrants who had gained a place in the American economy through a small business, saw it crushed by the virus.
For the undocumented among them, staying at home meant no income and no government help. Instead, they made the daily decision to continue working in restaurants, food delivery, or construction. It was a decision that meant higher rates of infection, sickness, and in some cases, death.
Kimberly: A Young Woman’s Story of Isolation in SF’s Mission District
Mission District resident Kimberly's pandemic experience in San Francisco is told through a series of illustrations.
UndocuFund SF: How San Franciscans Rallied for Undocumented Immigrants Affected by COVID-19
As San Francisco shut down in mid-March, dozens of community leaders realized undcoumented workers could be hit hard; their immigration status bars them from receiving federal aid like unemployment checks. Thus came the idea for UndocuFund SF, a nonprofit that provides economic relief for undocumented workers who live or work in the city.
At La Cocina, COVID Changed Everything — Except Its Baked-In Resiliency
La Cocina, a nonprofit incubator for low-income food entrepreneurs, has adapted to the pandemic by finding new ways to feed the local community and support their growing network of graduates.
Finding Moments of Grace and Gold in the Midst of a Pandemic
Longtime Mission District resident Erica Rodriguez looks for moments of happiness in a time of great anxiety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.