 |
| US/Mexican Border |
We have
all heard of the plight of many women and children who are crossing the border
in Texas, California and Arizona. They are coming mostly from Central
America. During one of the retreats held in June, it was suggested for
some of us to be “first responders." Sr. Loraine
Polacci and Isabel Malloy, CSJA from San Francisco, have responded by
volunteering for the month of July to work with Catholic Community
Services in Tucson and Nogales with their program of migrant women and
children. We as a province also have sent a monetary donation to the
Catholic Community Service in Tucson.
Loraine
and Isabel volunteered and received the following response from Tucson:
Your
Sisters are needed! I was at a meeting today with Bishop in
the lead, the Mayor and 20 plus others from agencies, MX Council, and so on.
One thing came up, that the Border Patrol is mostly men…and so they don’t have
enough women to take on the “womanly” care of the children that is needed –
relationship wise. Welcome to the Sisters!
From
Loraine:
…Dear
Theresa, Isabel and I arrived safely in Tucson Sat. afternoon. Judy
Bourg, SSND is staying overnight as well. She works with the migrant
center in Douglas, and once a month does the "water drop" at
strategic migrant areas. This morning Isabel went with her. I am
staying with Michelle Humke to sort out what we both know. Michelle
says there is a meeting at CSS tomorrow about the sheltering in Tucson around
the 4th.
…Yesterday we went
to Nogales to a Red Cross training. Volunteers will assist unaccompanied
youth make phone calls to family--in their home country or their relative who
will accept them here--- Great training with very good guidelines to
protect the volunteer as well as the youth.
…Last night we went
to the catholic social services training. Volunteers will accompany
women, their children and pregnant women who have been dropped at the greyhound
bus station, to get to the right bus. Also house overnight those whose bus does
not leave until the next day.
It feels good to
finally have something concrete to do. We are going to the bus station
today for some more training.
I am so grateful
for your prayers and support.
Loraine
No comments:
Post a Comment