It was after the eighth or ninth story that Patricia Alarcón had to excuse herself.

After hearing tales from families in hiding, unwilling to even answer their door, neighbors sharing dwindling food supplies with each other, and many not knowing where missing family members are, Alarcón found herself in her car, near tears.

As executive director of El Monte Business Alliance, Alarcón is leading “El Monte Cares,” a collaborative, regional response to help the undocumented afraid to leave their homes in the wake of sweeps by federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, wearing bulletproof vests, and descending on bus stops, car washes, restaurants and other public spaces.

The new program, Alarcón said, is a call to action to help families impacted by immigration enforcement. Even before the official launch Friday at the Mountain View Family Center in El Monte, organizers said hundreds have signed up for help. Alarcón said she expects the need to quickly grow to the thousands.

“El Monte Cares is a promise that no one will be left behind,” Alarcón said. “In the face of fear, we’ve chosen unity. In the face of hardship, we’ve chosen compassion. We’re focused on a strong mindset for solutions.”

El Monte’s city leaders have been working on the initiative since the raids began two weeks ago, said Marisol Cortez, mayor pro tem, “to ensure no resident feels alone or unsupported during this challenging time. The fear has gripped our community.”

The new campaign, fashioned after a similar program that ran during the COVID-19 pandemic, will offer safe deliveries of food, as well as legal help, educational aid for children, baby products, medical help, mental health resources and senior support. The El Monte City Council attended the launch with Supervisor Hilda Solis, who jumpstarted the effort with a $100,000 contribution.

“I’m incredibly proud of this project and the collective effort it represents. I invite everyone who feels helpless to join us in this initiative,” Cortez added. “This is where you can put your energy.”

Solis, back in her hometown, lamented the due process denied to detainees since the immigration raids began in Los Angeles two weeks ago.

“What happened to our history? What happened to our Constitution? What happened to our principles of democracy and government? I’m not talking about political parties, but how we conduct ourselves,” Solis said. “You set this first example here and I hope this takes fire in other cities that will also stand up and do the same thing.”

Solis said Latinos make up 72% of El Monte’s almost 120,000 residents, with 32,000 of its residents receiving CalFresh food assistance benefits.

On the day Vice President JD Vance visited Los Angeles, Solis said he should see the reality on the ground, where immigration raids have spread terror across neighborhoods and separated families.

“The fear in our communities is real, but this truth is one JD Vance refuses to accept,” Solis said.

Federal officials have ramped up arrests in recent days during a massive federal immigration crackdown that has blanketed the nation.

They are fueled by President Donald Trump’s pledge to mass deport violent, undocumented criminals.

Homeland security officials say they are “removing the worst of the worst from our streets.”

On Wednesday, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin declared, “There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine (immigration enforcement) efforts. Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safeguard public safety, national security and economic stability.’’

But advocates say the operation has also rounded up people who are not violent criminals.

Alarcón assured anyone who calls on the El Monte program will not be asked about their legal status and that deliveries will be made following safety protocols and precautions.

“We just need to know are you hungry? Do you need legal help? Are your babies okay?” she said.

The people they’ve helped so far are terrified in hiding, yet so eager to tell their stories. Alarcón said one woman and mother of three can’t visit her husband, arrested nine days ago during a raid at the restaurant where he worked. Undocumented herself, she knew she could be detained if she tried to see him. The only U.S. citizen in the family is their youngest child, a minor.

“So she doesn’t go to work, she didn’t have any groceries, and when she found out about this from one of our councilmembers, she said neighbors are helping neighbors, a little bit of soup here, a couple of tortillas there, but how long will that last?”

Alarcón said the model for “El Monte Cares” will adapt to changing needs too, such as if clients need more legal aid or help paying rent or utilities.

Mark Ramos, chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, said the new program will be a standard-bearer for immigrant aid in the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.

“It’s people stepping up to help others without asking questions, people just saying ‘I need help’ and others stepping into that space and saying ‘We are here for you,’” Ramos said. “That is what makes El Monte special.”

Ramos also called for an end to what he called escalating attacks on communities.

“We’re also here to say, this campaign of terrorizing our communities has to stop, and it has to stop now,” he added. “These ICE raids have begun, and what are people to think when someone who has their face covered has no identification visible to anybody shows up and puts a semi-automatic rifle in your face? Detaining people whether they’re documented or undocumented, detaining US citizens. These are unconscionable and unreasonable times, and it’s really, really up to us as our communities to stand up, support each other, be here for each other.”

“El Monte Cares” accepts monetary and in-kind donations, volunteers, including delivery drivers, and welcomes partnerships with businesses and other groups. For more information, call (800) 622-4302, email info@elmontecares.org or visit elmontebusinessalliance.com.