HUNTINGTON PARK, Calif. — A mountain of treats and snacks were stacked up in the backyard as Nicole Castro and her friends packed to-go bags to handout at protests.

Rice crispy treats, granola bars, Gatorade, and plenty more were placed in the bags. The scene might not seem like the usual look for a group of friends on a Friday afternoon, but for Castro it's become a familiar sight.

“This is our third time packing snacks and honestly we have fun doing it," Castro said. "And we know we’re doing the right thing.”

What You Need To Know

  • Over the last week, thousands have come together nationwide to protests racism and police brutality.

  • While protesters march, others bring snacks, water, and other supplies to help sustain them.

  • The support groups have become affectionately known as "Protest Pit Crews."

  • Groups feel like they have a unique role to play in helping with peaceful demonstrations.

Castro said packing the snack bags is the right thing for both themselves and their community. Like many young adults in Southern California and across the country, Castro has joined in to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

She believes each of her friends, as members of the Latinx community, has a distinct role to play.

“We’re people of color as well," she said. "It’s mind-boggling that we’re still having to fight for our rights and so, we just want to help in any way we can and see where it takes us.”

So far, they have taken travelled with their filled snack bags to several protests throughout Los Angeles.

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“We were just gonna go protest but then we realized that there’s more that we could do," Castro explained. "We decided to do what we could do.”

During the last week, millions across the globe have felt the same way — forming one team to peacefully protests and demand for change.

And as protesters continue to gather and lend their voices, there's a growing sub-movement that is volunteering to lend a hand.

A support staff, as some would call it, or in this case a protest pit crew.

“It’s all our fight, especially being people of color. We just want to help," Castro said.

For each protest they attend, the group prepares by creating snack bags to hand out to other protesters. Inside are snacks and drinks, along with a phone number to call for help should protesters be arrested.

“We know not everyone has access to this stuff," Castro explained." This was something that we [could] take into our own hands.”