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On a aspect road about 5 minutes from the U.S. border, a two-story constructing rises in an empty, dusty lot in Mexicali, Mexico, the place households fleeing persecution and violence arrive, wait and hope to be accepted as refugees in America.
Refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
Households from Mexico and Central and South America stroll into Cobina Posada Del Migrante with little greater than the garments on their again and a dream to stay in America in prosperity and peace. The shelter, which accepts solely households, can home about 250 individuals, in keeping with shelter director Elizabeth Gallardo, “however we’ve had as much as 500 individuals without delay,” she stated in Spanish.
“It is a safe shelter,” she added, the place no single males are allowed.
Refugee fathers pray through the Father’s Day celebration at refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
The variety of residents can range from 100 to 400 a month, relying on how briskly their refugee purposes are processed, Gallardo stated. Households are given free room and board.
Rooms can maintain 4 to 6 individuals. Girls and youngsters keep within the downstairs rooms and fathers or companions keep in rooms on the second flooring of the constructing. There’s a courtyard so long as the constructing, the place occasions happen and youngsters play.
As a result of the necessity for contributions is nice, two teams — SoCal Immigration Job Power and Border Compassion — got here collectively to carry provides and presents to the migrants for Father’s Day.
Refugee fathers got sneakers, clothes and toiletries on the Father’s Day celebration, held at refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
Isaac Cuevas, director of immigration and public affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, stated that the SoCal Immigration Job Power is made up of representatives from the Dioceses of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and San Bernardino. The duty drive contacted Sister Suzanne Jabro, founding father of Border Compassion, who organizes visits to the shelter.
Border Compassion’s Sister Suzanne Jabro, left, greets Alejandro Iraldo Velazquez, of Colombia, at refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante’s Father’s Day celebration in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
“She had invited us to return be part of. Once we heard that the lads weren’t being celebrated on Father’s Day, it was an ideal time for us to guide that effort as a bunch,” stated Cuevas. He added that celebrations for different holidays, like Youngsters’s Day or Mom’s Day, have been frequent on the shelter, however not for Father’s Day.
The group traveled to the border from all through Southern California and gathered in Calexico. There, they took a brief cab trip to the border crossing, the place they walked throughout with suitcases full of the donations. Throughout the border, in Mexicali, they once more loaded up in taxis for the quick, five-minute drive to the shelter.
Home of Ruth employees and Camp Mariastella counselors, a part of SoCal Immigration Job Power, put together to cross the U.S./Mexico border in Calexico, Calif., carrying clothes and toiletries to donate at a Father’s Day occasion at refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
The gadgets dropped at the shelter included new males’s underwear and socks, baseball caps and private hygiene merchandise like shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, deodorant and toothpaste.
Refugee fathers got garments and toiletries on the Father’s Day celebration, held at refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
The group additionally introduced gadgets for the shelter’s youngsters corresponding to water toys, coloring books, crayons, watercolor paints and chalk, Cuevas stated.
Lengthy tables had been arrange the place the fathers chosen shirts, pants, sneakers, socks and underwear. In addition they acquired toiletries.
Refugee fathers got garments and toiletries on the Father’s Day celebration at refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
Eric Palacios, 36, of El Salvador, was grateful for the presents and cash.
“It can come in useful,” he stated.
One other non permanent shelter resident, Dario Rivera, 44, of Colombia, was glad to obtain clothes. “We have to have these items and we’re grateful to the group.”
Refugee fathers like Dario Rivera, 44, of Colombia, acquired clothes and toiletries on the Father’s Day celebration held at refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
Of their second 12 months serving to with donations, Cuevas stated, the group collected gadgets by way of an Amazon want listing, together with financial donations.
Some members of the SoCal Immigration Job Power put together to cross the U.S./Mexico border in Calexico, Calif., carrying clothes and toiletries to donate at a Father’s Day occasion at refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
“Border Compassion is finishing its first full 12 months,” stated Sister Suzanne. “We started in November 2021. We don’t go in July, August and September on account of excessive warmth however we offer a meals price range, pay an ESL instructor 5 days per week for 3 hours a day, stipend an assistant for statistic and monetary help and wishes all 12 months, together with the summer time months.”
The day’s occasions started with introductions and a prayer. Each father was given a particular present: a brand new pockets with $60. After the formalities, everybody was handled to scorching canines, drinks and ice cream. Youngsters performed video games and labored on arts and crafts. After lunch, a few of the mother and father performed water balloon toss with the youngsters.
Refugee Abdiel Esau Cohello Gonzalez, 28, of Honduras, finds money in a brand new pockets given to every father for Father’s Day at Cobina Posada Del Migrante on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
“I’m very grateful for the help,” Gallardo stated. “The migrants are at all times very proud of the gadgets the teams carry however most of all, they’re very proud of the volunteers and the eye they supply.”
Father Jay Cunnane blesses Eric Palacios throughout a Father’s Day celebration at Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
Cuevas, who introduced his spouse and two youngsters, stated that he concerned his household on this charity outing as a result of, “As a household rooted in our religion, we perceive that charity is a part of who we’re as a unit.”
“We’re additionally a household with immigrant roots who wish to help migrants and refugees in no matter manner we are able to,” he added. “As an archdiocesan group, we’re grateful to Archbishop José Gomez” of Los Angeles “for his continued help of our efforts and for his continued advocacy for immigration reform.”
Archdiocese of Los Angeles director of immigration and public affairs Isaac Cuevas, left, emceed the enjoyable and video games for Father’s Day at Cobina Posada Del Migrante on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions en Espanol)
