Columbia Academy Middle School Keeps Food Pantry Stocked for Families Impacted by ICE Surge

The school converted a storage space into a functioning food pantry to support local families still feeling the effects of Operation Metro Surge.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:23pm

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In the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities, Columbia Academy Middle School in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, has converted a physical education storage space into a functioning food pantry. The school is packing over 100 grocery bags per week for families who are too afraid to leave their homes due to the lingering impact of the ICE raids. Students are volunteering to help stock and distribute the food, which is funded by donations from the local Hope Church.

Why it matters

The ICE surge may have ended, but its impact on immigrant communities in the Twin Cities remains. Families are still too scared to go out, leaving them without access to food and other necessities. Columbia Academy's food pantry is a critical resource for supporting these vulnerable households and ensuring students don't go hungry.

The details

Principal Leslee Sherk invited WCCO to the school to see the food pantry in action. Families sign up weekly to receive the pre-packed grocery bags, which are assembled by student volunteers in an assembly line process. The bags contain items like produce, dairy, and protein. The school is able to provide this service thanks to generous donations from Hope Church in Blaine.

  • Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement operation, took place in the Twin Cities region.
  • Columbia Academy Middle School converted a storage space into a functioning food pantry in the aftermath of the ICE surge.
  • The school is currently packing over 100 grocery bags per week for local families.

The players

Leslee Sherk

The principal of Columbia Academy Middle School, who initiated the conversion of a storage space into a food pantry to support families impacted by the ICE surge.

Hope Church

A church in Blaine, Minnesota, that has provided generous donations to support Columbia Academy's food pantry program.

Christopher Diaz Beltram

A student volunteer at Columbia Academy Middle School who helps pack the weekly grocery bags for families.

Jessoyn Smith

A student volunteer at Columbia Academy Middle School who helps pack the weekly grocery bags for families.

Numtaz Mohamed Nur

A student volunteer at Columbia Academy Middle School who helps pack the weekly grocery bags for families.

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What they’re saying

“Every week we have families that sign up for groceries, and so we put them on a list and assign a number.”

— Leslee Sherk, Principal, Columbia Academy Middle School

“It's an assembly line, so one of us gets like each fridge, and then there's bags. One person puts like carrots and cheese in one bag. Then we pass it, put chicken and berries.”

— Christopher Diaz Beltram, Student Volunteer

“It's for families that, they're not able to come to school that need help with groceries, because maybe they're so scared about ICE or, like, you know, just scared to go out in general.”

— Jessoyn Smith, Student Volunteer

“I wanted to make sure that they have something to eat and that they don't feel in danger.”

— Numtaz Mohamed Nur, Student Volunteer

“It's really great to help them out, especially in hard times like this. You never know what someone else is going through.”

— Jessoyn Smith, Student Volunteer

What’s next

The school plans to transition the food pantry from a delivery model to a pick-up model after spring break, allowing families to come to the school directly to collect the groceries.

The takeaway

Columbia Academy Middle School's food pantry is a heartwarming example of an educational institution stepping up to support vulnerable immigrant families in their community who are still grappling with the lasting impacts of the federal immigration crackdown. By converting a storage space and mobilizing student volunteers, the school is ensuring these families have access to essential food and resources during a difficult time.