How AIO is working to protect vulnerable community members.
Dear Community:
Many of you are rightly concerned about ICE Agents potentially coming to Knox County, and then possibly to AIO. We are of course concerned and after participating in ILAP sponsored “Know Your Rights” training and ACLU sponsored “4th Amendment” training, we have developed the following policies and practices:
1) Alternate Food Access: AIO's food supports the Home Delivery Program and several satellite locations. We encourage anyone who is concerned about coming to the AIO Market to still access food through one of these two means.
We have shifted several families to Home Delivery at their request and are working with local groups whose volunteers are shopping at AIO on behalf of at-risk families.
Satellite food shelves exist at: PenBay Emergency Room, The Beebe and Physicians buildings doctor offices, the Maine Health Walk-in Clinic, The Rockport and Rockland YMCAs, Camden Library, and several churches.
While our service area is Knox County, through this time period we are glad to extend home delivery to at-risk families in adjacent towns in Lincoln or Waldo Counties.
2) The Market: AIO members have a reasonable expectation of privacy when they come to the market. AIO may be crowded, but people shopping must become a member and complete an application. Their information is kept private. As a result, we have placed signage at all doors indicating that "AIO is a Private Facility". If this designation is respected, ICE Agents will be denied access without a Judicial Warrant (a warrant with a specific purpose, listing AIO and noting our address and signed by a Judge, for a specific time duration). Should they present a Judicial Warrant, we will allow access, but will not respond. Without obstructing their search, we will not give any information about members, volunteers, donors or any AIO programs.
3) Volunteers: All volunteers will be given a laminated card with "What to do if an ICE Agent arrives" instructions.
Essentially we don't want volunteers to engage with any ICE Agent on behalf of AIO or any AIO Member. Volunteers are of course allowed to respond to ICE Agents about themselves (if they choose to) but when it comes to AIO and AIO Members, they will refer ICE to Alan Kearl or any of the AIO Staff.
We appreciate that these are hard times and hope that this unsettling period will pass quickly. Any questions can be referred to Alan Kearl (alan@aiofoodpantry.org or to 571-215-3505 (cell)).
—Alan Kearl
Executive Director