>>> IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS SINCE HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS ARRIVED IN BUSES FROM THE TEXAS BORDER.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ VISITS A CONGREGATION IN CHICAGO'S NORTH AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD HELPING ASYLUM-SEEKERS THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY.

>> Reporter: IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK INSIDE OF THIS FOOD PANTRY.

PASTOR JOHN OF GRACE AND PEACE CHURCH RUNS THE OPERATION.

>> [ SPEAKING NON ENGLISH ] >> WE DO OUR FOOD BANK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY.

WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS WE'VE TRIED TO HELP FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES WITH FOODS THAT THEY DON'T RECEIVE.

>> Reporter: THAT MISSION NOW GOES BEYOND THE FOOD PANTRY.

LAST YEAR, THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE OPENED THE DOORS OF THEIR CHURCH TO WELCOME DOZENS OF MIGRANTS ARRIVING ON BUSES FROM TEXAS.

>> ONCE THEY WERE COMING HERE , WE WERE ABLE TO FEED THEM, CLOTHE THEM.

THEY RECEIVED SHOWERS , AND WE WOULD PLACE THEM IN DIFFERENT PLACES TO LIVE.

>> Reporter: RAMIREZ IS ONE OF THE MIGRANTS WHO ARRIVED AT GRACE AND PEACE CHURCH ON A BUS FROM THE BORDER.

>> [ SPEAKING NON ENGLISH ] SPEAKING NON ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: THE MOTHER OF TWO SAYS THE CONGREGATION HAS GIVEN HER FAMILY A FRESH START FROM THE HARDSHIPS OF VENEZUELA.

>> [ SPEAKING NON ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE IS MUCH AND 25 SAYS IT STARTED TO HAPPEN .

DEMANDS FOR SERVICES STARTED TO GROW.

>> RETURNING MIGRANTS THAT WE GET WEEKLY, ABOUT 150 THAT WOULD COME HERE WEEKLY RECEIVING SERVICES, BUT WE STILL GET FAMILIES TO MY FAMILIES THAT COME FROM OTHER STATES THAT ARE TRYING TO FIND BENEFITS AND RESOURCES AND HELP.

>> Reporter: SHE AND HER TWO KIDS SPENT 10 DAYS WALKING TO THE PANAMANIAN JUNGLE PICK HER 10-YEAR-OLD SON MADE A LONG JOURNEY WITH ONE LEG.

>> [ SPEAKING NON ENGLISH ] SPEAKING NON ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE VISITING THE CHURCH IN HOPES OF GETTING HELP FOR HER SON.

>> [ SPEAKING NON ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: HE HAD HIS LEG AMPUTATED WHEN HE WAS JUST FOUR YEARS OLD.

>> [ SPEAKING NON ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: WHAT STARTED AS A YOUTH PROGRAM IN 1995 HAS EXPANDED TO A MASSIVE OPERATION, A MISSION PASTOR ZAYAS SAYS IS GOD'S WORK.

>> Reporter: WHERE DOES YOUR PASSION COME FROM?

>> I'LL CALL TUITT.

I'M SERIOUS, I'M CALLED TO IT.

NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT THE STAFF IS ALL CALLED TO HELP PEOPLE.

IS NOT ABOUT A PAYCHECK.

IT'S ABOUT BEING CALLED THIS TYPE OF WORK AND HELPING THE FOLKS WHO ARE MARGINALIZED IN LIFE.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO