There's much more than what meets the eye behind the kitchen at La Morada.

The restaurant/mutual aid kitchen was one of the first to open its doors to refugees, leading to the beginning of a movement during the pandemic.

"At the height of the pandemic, we were doing anywhere between 2,000 to 4,000 meals a day," said Carolina Saavedra.

It's a movement they say hits close to home.

"This restaurant is owned and run by an undocumented family, which is my parents. And knowing that struggle...of needing a place of refuge, of needing a place that is dignified...of needing a place that you're not seen as less than," said Saavedra.

Every penny that is donated is put to use, from workshops to free meals, until closing.

It's a demand they say grows larger every year.

"Regardless of how soon, how early on they just arrive to the state or how long have they been here, you know, it's a matter of making sure that our community prospers together," said Yaya Saavedra.