With buckets full of candy, street vendors distributing prepared corn on the cob, and all kinds of costumes ready to give away, the Raices con Voz group in East Los Angeles gave families impacted by inflation and immigration raids a night of happiness, magic, and normalcy.

Raices con Voz, a collective made up of public health professionals, students, and community volunteers, collaborated with the Magic Dream Costumes store and TikTok creator Hester Jean Lee to give away costumes and support businesses in their community.

“I know there are parents who have to decide between buying food and costumes; that's why we want to take that weight off their shoulders,” said Stephanie Rodriguez, an organizer with Raices con Voz. “We don't want children to feel excluded in class for being the only ones not wearing a costume.”

It was 7:30 in the evening when Miguel Montes, founder of Raices con Voz, and his team were preparing to welcome dozens of families.

Montes said this wasn't his first visit to Oscar Tellez's shop, the owner of Magic Dream Costumes, and that when they began to consider which store they would collaborate with, they thought of the entrepreneur, who has his business in this Latino community and has been creating Halloween costumes for almost 30 years.

He also remembered that when he was a child, he used to come buy and rent his costumes at this same location.

"It's been very hard for everyone, so we just wanted to ease the burden on the parents a little and also give these children an unforgettable Halloween," Montes said. "And we chose Oscar because we felt he was someone who was truly part of the community, and we wanted to reinvest in it."

Thanks to the donations they were able to collect, they were able to purchase and donate more than 100 costumes to families waiting in line and also made home deliveries to families who expressed fear of going out. Each family was able to choose a costume for each child.

“It's important for me to offer this to our communities because I benefited from similar services when I was little,” Montes said. “When I was a child, I received free haircuts and other services,and I just wanted to do the same.”

For the shop owner, who inherited his gift for making costumes from his mother, who made and sold them since he was a child in Mexico, this season is his favorite, but he reveals that it is also a difficult time because he has seen that there is always one or another child who comes in and cannot afford to buy a costume.

“I believe that children are angels who deserve a little happiness; I know that it is very difficult right now with everything that is happening," said Tellez. "Immigration does not see the harm they do to little children; it does affect them; That's why we did this, and for today, you can be kids and enjoy yourself.”

Her business is one of many affected by rising product prices and immigration raids. In addition to selling costumes, she also sells party supplies.

“Reinvesting in our communities is important, so having the street vendors here and contributing to a small business like this, instead of a large corporation, I feel like it helps our community grow and support each other,” said Pamela Cruz, another organizer with the group.

That afternoon, Tellez's store was only open to families present, in order to offer them a safe and unhurried shopping experience. Children's eyes widened at all the costumes available.

Princess dresses, Superman capes, Chavo del Ocho costumes, and horror masks covered every corner of the store. All handmade by Tellez and her team, who sew each costume right there.

A mother, who preferred not to share her name, attended the event and commented that it has been difficult for her family of seven to afford to buy costumes, since her husband is the only one who works.

“Because of everything that's happening, we've been struggling, and honestly, this year I didn't have anything for my children,” said the mother as she cradled her daughter in her arms and her children excitedly looked at the costumes outside the store. "And truly, it's a blessing; they're helping us a lot." “It's a beautiful thing for the community and gives us hope that we're not alone.”

A gesture of solidarity

Koreatown resident Hester Jean Lee, who went viral for helping street vendors during the raids, not only helped the group but also bought all the merchandise from two street vendors. She invited them to her store to distribute ice cream cones, corn on the cob, shaved ice, and chips.

“I firmly believe that we are stronger together, and when they asked me to help because of the work I do, I immediately accepted,” she said while filling pumpkin buckets with candy. “We all have the power to protect our communities and provide help when needed.”

One of the vendors said Lee was like an angel because, he says,he's had several bad experiences with young people on TikTok, but she's been the only one who's helped him without knowing him. The other vendor, next to him, described their situation as street vendors as serious.

“It was a miracle because sales are very low because of immigration; more is wasted than sold,” said the vendor. “And now that they arrived, well, it did help us, because I think we're all suffering economically right now, and it's affecting us morally too: anxiety, depression, fear of going out.”

The event was a success, and although their costume list is already full, the group, which has also distributed food to affected families, continues to raise funds for other community events they're planning for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's celebrations.

“We just want to thank all of you, because without you this wouldn't be possible. All of your donations go to help the community,” said Rodriguez. “As an organization, we always try to think of the small details that can make a big difference in someone's life.”

And Tellez, who says she has always donated costumes to organizations, maintains that it has never been more special than the one held that night. She also plans to donate eight costumes at her stores and announce it on social media.

To donate to Raices con Voz: https://givebutter.com/raicesconvozph and follow their events on Instagram @raicesconvozph

Magic Dream Costumes

4685 E Olympic Boulevard. Los Angeles, CA 90022.

This article was produced under the California Local News Fellowship at the University of Berkeley.