Love your neighbor. The concept is taught in all major religions, and is pretty much the basic rule of being a good human. Some would argue that loving others is humanity’s reason for being here. Some would say that we love God by or through loving our neighbors.
Are you looking for some practical ideas how you can love your immigrant neighbors? Look no further! There are ideas below to fit any budget.
Shoeboxes of Support
You may have heard about the makeshift immigrant camp in Matamoros, Mexico, on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, across from Brownsville, Texas. The New York Times recently published an article about it here: https://nyti.ms/32ta3EJ. Hundreds of asylum seekers are stuck in this camp as they wait for their turn to present themselves at the U.S. border. Some have been there for over a year, since MPP (Remain in Mexico) went into effect. Since March, the border has been completely closed, leaving our neighbors in this camp in limbo until at least sometime next year. Now you have the opportunity to send a shoebox of hope and support to an asylum-seeking child in Matamoros! Follow the simple directions below.
1) Find a (large) shoebox!
2) Fill your shoebox with a pair of brand new children’s pjs, socks, underwear, gloves, beanie hat, and a children’s flashlight including batteries.
3) Leave tags and packaging on clothing when possible for easier passage from U.S. to Mexico.
4) Say a little prayer for the child who will receive your shoebox.
5) Contact me directly for the mailing address.
Artwork by Asylum Seekers
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Maybe you’re looking for a little something special for yourself? The Sidewalk School at the tent encampment in Matamoros is selling artwork made by asylum seekers, including gorgeous masks, prints, greeting cards, and more. Proceeds go back to the artists. Check it out here: https://etsy.me/3laLWSG
Playground for Immigrant Camp
Volunteer engineers have been working in the Matamoros immigrant camp over the past year. Now they’ve designed a playground for the kids and have been given permission by the Mexican authorities to build it. You can help them fund the playground!
This go-fund-me is specifically to fund the playground in the Matamoros encampment. It will bring some joy and happiness to kids who have lost so much of their childhood living in the camp.
Holiday Cards & Gifts
This is a great activity to do with children you might be homeschooling, or as a fun holiday project with any children in your life. But it’s not just for children!
Every year, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services delivers holiday cards and gifts to immigrants in detention and at shelters along the border. The card you send will likely be the only holiday card these neighbors receive, so you have permission—encouragement, even—to go a little crazy. If your budget is limited, use those free cards you get in the mail and add your own message and artwork, or make your own cards. Cards with stickers, glitter/glue, sequins, staples, or tape will not be accepted, but you can still get creative with your colored pens, pencils, pastels, and paints. Feel free to include greetings in Spanish! Samples are available at the link below. Do not include individual envelopes, and mail your cards before December 11.
Get all the details and the shipping address here: https://www.lirs.org/take-action/hope-for-the-holidays/. There’s a whole toolkit available, including a petition you can sign toward ending the detention of children and families, and an easy way to donate so that LIRS can also deliver gifts to children in detention and shelters this Christmas.
Kidney Transplant
Back in February I visited the Casa Alitas immigrant shelter in Tucson, where I met the lovely family pictured below. They had planned to go to California where a relative was going to sponsor them, but that relative ultimately was unable to take in the family of five. So they spent several weeks at the shelter, hoping to find a new sponsor.
At the same time, friends of mine in Colorado (some of whom I didn’t even know yet) were hoping to sponsor a family! I had the awesome honor to connect everyone via Skype. There’s nothing quite like being in the room when a family is invited by a stranger to come live in their town. Later that month, we met the family at the bus station in a snow storm. Welcome to Colorado!
The family’s mom, Nora, has a twin brother in Mexico who was recently diagnosed with kidney failure. He’s getting dialysis, which he can barely afford at $150 USD/week, but he ultimately needs a kidney transplant, at a cost of $20,000.
Please support the family’s GoFundMe campaign (link below) with any amount you can. You know how these fundraisers work: it takes a village of people who each donate a small amount, combining to make impossible things possible. If you can give five or ten dollars, please do. And if you can give more, please do. It takes every drop to fill the bucket. Thank you for your generosity and LOVE IN ACTION.
stand4welcome 