ONTARIO, Calif. — How do you get people to give when even givers are suffering during this pandemic?

That has been Oscar Ayon’s task as the founder of Unidos Por La Música, an Inland Empire based nonprofit that puts on musical events and fundraisers to help give back to the community, especially the Latino immigrant community.

“I am an immigrant that came to the U.S. at an early age, not knowing what resources to look for or where to go. That’s that inspired me to start this nonprofit," he said. 

Ayon’s nonprofit has been busy helping provide food and funding to undocumented families who have not had access to stimulus checks throughout the pandemic. The service has touched families who have been living with both the fear of deportation, and the struggle to survive.

“A lot of families when they got the call, that they were notified that they were going to receive $500 checks, they got emotional because they were in the breaking point of not knowing what to do, or how to move forward," said Ayon.

That breaking point is also hitting Ayon and his team. Having relied on live music events for funding, the pandemic has caused them to search left and right to gather donations.

He is calling out to the community for support to not just survive this season, but also work towards the goal of opening up additional resource centers in the Inland Empire, and eventually Los Angeles.

“We need to remind ourselves first of all, that we are humans. When you’re in need, necessity does not discriminate, it doesn’t matter if you’re African American, Latino, White, Asian, you are in need," said Ayon. 

He and his team hope to continue to provide those needs through unity and collaboration.