Last December, I traveled to the U.S. / Mexico Border to gain a firsthand perspective of the issues threatening our neighbors. How this situation is affecting families, and especially children, is devastating to me, but being in McAllen, TX and also crossing into Mexico opened my eyes to ways that we as a Church could come alongside our neighbors during this time. Through my work with ChildFund, I have developed a relationship with a Respite Center in Texas that ChildFund provides care at and we have been given a list of tangible items that are needed.
Therefore, this December, we are turning our barn into a Collection Center for Homeless Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers on the U.S. / Mexico Border. The main purpose of this event is to build relationships with our neighbors. The physical items are necessary at this time, but we are also in pursuit of a longterm solution to the border crisis, so we will have a virtual reality experience, photos and stories of the children that you will be impacting on display at the collection center.
In the barn, we will have bins for the collection items as well as child packets of children from Mexico, Honduras, Guatamala and the U.S. As you drop off items, we encourage you to take a moment to get to know your neighbors via a VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE filmed in Mexico and consider sponsoring a child with ChildFund as a way to prevent another migration crisis.
These items will be specifically sent to ChildFund International in Texas and distributed to La Posada Respite Center in San Benito, Texas. La Posada (https://lppshelter.org ) is an emergency shelter for homeless immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Programming includes immediate and tangible support for adults and kids in the form of food, shelter, clothing, medical supplies and care. Also offered and equally important, is case management with an individualized resettlement preparation process that includes needs assessment, goal-setting and facilitation of services to meet identified needs. Services include local transportation to off-site agencies (health care, legal-aid and social services), access to on-site communication resources, paperwork/translation assistance, English literacy (everyone is required to take an English class twice a daily at the center), workforce readiness, and life skills education.
Local friends are encouraged to personally drop items off between 12noon-8pm on December 10th, 2019 and to take a few minutes to meet some of the children that you will be impacting (via a virtual reality experience, photos and stories that will be on display). Free coffee, hot cocoa and snacks will be provided.
Out of town friends are invited to participate by using this Amazon List and sending items to arrive on or before December 10th to Willet Family Farm (Attn: Border Event) 2610 Baumgardner Rd Westminster, MD 21158: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1EM63GTGJM2HF
ITEMS NEEDED:
– Books
– Toothbrushes
– Pencils
– Toothpaste
-Drawing materials
– Backpacks
-Deodorant
-Stuffed animals
-Female Hygiene items
-Toys
-Soap
-Card games
-Diapers Size 2-5
-Boys & Girls Shoes
