El Paso Catholic Diocese Marriage & Family Life

The Border Refugee Assistance Fund

Over the last year, border communities and people around the world stood in solidarity like never before with our migrant sisters and brothers arriving to the US-Mexico border. People of faith and those motivated by a sense of justice showed the rest of the country that we can receive refugees and asylum seekers with generosity, compassion and dignity.

Now we have the chance to stand up again. Because of policies like Remain in Mexico, our sister cities in Mexico face the unprecedented challenge of meeting the basic humanitarian needs of refugees forced to remain in that country as they make their asylum claims. Churches and local communities are doing everything possible to feed, clothe and offer shelter to thousands of migrant families fleeing desperate conditions and looking for safety and refuge. Join the effort right now by contributing to the Border Refugee Assistance Fund, which provides direct assistance to migrant shelters working on the Ciudad Juarez - El Paso border.

The Border Refugee Assistance Fund is a joint initiative of the Bishop of El Paso and the Hope Border Institute.

Centro San Juan Diego a Ministry of the Diocese of El Paso
Certified Charity


For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.
Matthew 25:35-36



In October,  Centro San Juan Diego of El Paso, Texas opened as an emergency refugee/immigrant shelter to provide hospitality to the many people released daily by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
From October 26 to  December 15, our shelter has welcomed more than 2,100 families seeking asylum. Every day, as many as 50-100 legally paroled migrants/refugees arrive at the Centro San Juan Diego Hospitality Center after being cleared by ICE.Our guests have no food, no warm clothing and no place to sleep.


At Centro San Juan Diego we provide hospitality by offering our guests warm food, a change of clothing, a shower, a place to sleep and phone call to a family member to help them make their way to family members here in the Unites States where they still have to face a court date and possible deportation. The family member pays for the bus of flight and we transport them to the bus station/airport and give them a “go bag” with water, food, a blanket and coloring books/toy for the journey (Imagine a 2-3 day bus ride with a child). As a part of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, our goal is to welcome all our guests as though it is Mary, Joseph and Jesus coming to us seeking “Posada”, a place to stay. We strive to provide hospitality to our refugee brothers and sisters in a time of great need. The community of El Paso has responded extremely well in providing toiletries, clothing, and transportation for our guests, but we need help with the food items to prepare meals and the “go bags” for the 1-3 day bus trip/flight. 


During this humanitarian Crisis we ask for your support in being part of this “gran posada” large hospitality center by donating to buy food for meals and go bags. 
Below is a list of packages of what your donation amounts would provide:


 

$20 – A Food Travel bag “go Bags”

Include – blanket, toy/coloring book, water, juice, PB&J sandwiches, granola bars, and other snacks so that families have food during a 1-3 day bus ride

 

$25 – Box of apples (110 apples)

            Apples are a favorite of our guests – much like a treat

 

$14 – Box of bananas – also a favorite and good to help the stomach readjust after days and weeks with out proper food.

 

$40 – Pot of Fresh soup for up to 80 of our newly arrived guests.

            When our guests arrive they have not eaten well from anywhere 15-30+ days.  If they eat a heavy meal, they often have an uneasy stomach and cramping. When our guests arrive there greeted with a warm bowl of soup and bread or a tortilla. It is warm and delicious comfort food that helps their stomach settle and prepares them to eat regularly again.

 

$50 – meal for 80 people

Our center provides breakfast lunch and dinner for our guests.

We have local donation of rice, bens, tortillas and bread that provide the start to a good and inexpensive meal. We have worked to make meal choices that our guest enjoy, are economical

 

·      Picadillo, rice and beans – tortilla

·      Spaghetti, salad, and buttered bread

·      Caldo with Quesadillas

·      Eggs and Winnie. Fruit, hot chocolate, cereal and milk

·      Chicken fajitas, with rice and beans and tortillas

 

$15 Coffee, cream and sugar for 80 people for a day

Our guests are accustomed to instant coffee, they like to make different coffee strengths. And all ages are used to drinking coffee even the kids. We like to leave the coffee out during the day because it is warm and provides for a social opportunity. Throughout the day just come into the dining room, make coffee, and sit and talk.


Our goal of $50,000 by Jan 31 will allow us to provide meals and go bags for our guest from now until February. 


 Our shelter works on behalf of the Annunciation House network in El Paso Texas.