WILLIAMSTOWN — When Wild Soul River owners Justin Adkins and Rebecca Guanzon learned that their friend in Minneapolis was organizing aid for families impacted by ICE arrests in her neighborhood, they knew they wanted to help.

With a philosophy of "her neighbors are our neighbors," Adkins and Guanzon organized a community event at their store on Saturday. They also hosted a raffle that raised $1,700, not including another $800 donated directly to the friend, Christy Farr.

Wild Soul River in Williamstown held a small-business raffle Saturday that went to directly to a friend in Minneapolis' efforts to support families near her that she said are "impacted by ICE abductions." Owners Justin Adkins and Rebecca Guanzon's raffle raised $1,700 with dozens in attendance, not including another $800 donated directly to Farr. "This is a small reminder that we can mobilize community," said Guanzon at the event before drawing raffle winners that took home prizes like handwoven baskets, a garden consultation, locally made jewelry and gift cards to local businesses.

The money will go directly toward paying a family’s rent, Farr said. The original goal was $1,600, and any remaining funds will be used to help other families in her neighborhood whose income earners were taken by federal agents or who are too afraid to leave their homes to work.

"The economic impact on the city and then [how that flows] down into individual households, it's just a profound disruption in a way that is leaving these big gaping holes in the these houses, families and also the whole community," Farr told The Eagle.

The event was held during the national "ICE Out Everywhere" protests and economic blackouts that took place over the weekend.

Grassroots protests and strikes targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns and the killing of U.S. citizens including Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Keith Porter Jr. Northern Berkshire residents joined “ICE Out” protests, and several small businesses held fundraisers supporting families affected by ICE activity in a Minneapolis neighborhood.

Buttons with slogans that read "Lead with love" and "Be Pretti Good" were available for the taking Satureday at Wild Soul River in Williamstown. Dozens of residents gathered at the herb and medicinal store to honor the people killed by federal agents and support a raffle that went directly to a woman in Minneapolis organizing aid for families in her neighborhood.

Though many small businesses across the county could not afford to close for the strike on Friday, many found other ways to show support. Northern Berkshire businesses Door Prize, Hexagon Bagels, Saavy Hive, State Food and Drink and The Bear and Bee Bookshop posted ways to donate to Farr's mutual aid efforts inside their shops.

"This is a small reminder that we can mobilize community," Guanzon said.

With two of his young kids trailing behind him throughout the event, resident Reid Solomon-Lane said he came to stand in solidarity with communities in Minnesota "who are feeling the resounding impact of ICE tormenting their neighborhoods."

"The kids go where we go," said Solomon-Lane, who said he was fortunate to have attended a class taught by John Lewis about nonviolent resistance. "We have always taught them that it is important to speak out and take a stand... and we've always taught them that following the rules isn't the end, its making whole-hearted and morally right choices."

Williams student Soleil Skrocki said that they were first shocked when they arrived and saw Wild Soul River was packed, but then she thought it made sense.

"Of course there are people here," they said. "I don't think it is super surprising because generally the people that I have talked to support this cause."

At the event on Saturday, Tamir Novotny of Rainy Day Coffee in North Adams, set up a pop-up barista area making hot drinks from freshly ground beans, with all proceeds donated to Farr's cause. Anyone can make a cup of coffee, Novotny said, but he wants his to be part of something more.

"We stand in solidarity with all of our neighbors," he said. "We are anti-fascist and anti-racist and what ICE is doing is both racist and fascist."

During a phone interview, Farr described what it looks like in her neighborhood after someone is taken by ICE officials. Sometimes, she said, there is "just an empty car, literally sitting in the middle of the street, running."

Despite feeling grief from losing her neighbors, Farr was appreciative to live in a time when everything can be recorded and people can use technology to respond to calls for aid from thousands of miles away.

"It feels unlike any other time in our history," she said. "The fact that this is happening here, and people are able to reach out and send money through Venmo and PayPal ... and that we can turn this event on Saturday into like, milk and electricity, it feels very profound."