Be Passionate About Helping
Humanitarian Crisis in Children’s Centers
Drinking from toilets. No soap. No diapers. When one hears about the dire conditions at the Clint, TX, children’s detention center it’s hard not to react. People have shared with us feeling helpless and hopeless as they listened to the news, or expressed dismay and anger on their social media.
For us, this situation is a call to action we cannot ignore. So, we started with an idea: Private people and businesses can provide supplies to the overwhelmed centers and organizations that receive the children upon their release from federal custody. The private sector can move at a much faster pace, addressing a need, without becoming entangled in legislation or political constructs.
As we shared our idea, we were humbled by the generous spirit shown by so many, as they asked, “What can I do to help?”
What’s Possible When We’re Passionate
Working in partnership with KindWorks, a 501(c)3 in Montgomery County, and Catholic Charities Diocese of Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley, we collected and delivered critical supplies for migrant children along our southern border in Texas.
The truck delivered supplies to Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville, Texas, last weekend.
The delivery included, among other supplies, more than 6,000 diapers; more than a 1,000 pair of socks and new underwear; 650 bathroom kits (toothbrush, tooth paste, soap, washcloth, shampoo, comb, etc.); more than 2,000 toothbrushes; about a 1,000 soap bars and wipes; and formula and medical supplies. All of the supplies had been sorted, counted and packed by more than 150 volunteers during the week before departure.
In addition, thanks to your generosity we were also able to buy shoes and water while in Laredo, which were desperately needed but not on the truck. And while in McAllen, we were able to purchase leggings for pregnant women.
Prior to our trip to the border, we had mentioned that we would post photos from the trip. We are not posting images at the moment as we were asked by Catholic Charities to let them review any photos with people prior to posting them anywhere on the web, for safety reasons.
Thank You!
Solution Makers Answer What’s Possible?
While just a few of the almost 1,000 solution makers are listed and pictured here, we want to thank everyone across the Washington Metropolitan area who have donated to this project. Thank you for sharing your time, energy and resources to make this project a success!
The staff and volunteers in Laredo asked us to say a special thank you to the many volunteers who helped count and label boxes. We heard over and over again, “You have no idea how incredibly helpful it is to have the boxes labeled and the contents counted already!”
Carmen T • Jean A • Laurana M • Mark M • Jeanne M • David W • Helen M • Howard K • Roma K • Lona P • Joram P • John S • Nancy S • John G • Sakena M • Lucy C • Cyrus B • Mia G • Francis D • Andrew D • Kate D • Malik T • Kate C • Fatima M • Asfara M • Auysha M • Bilaal D • Alma D • Sharon P • Jason L • Eileen H • Maddie L • Carol O • Alice H • Jodi G • Liza M • Emily K • Denise S • Arlene P • Carol B • Tracey S • Robin H • Alicia P • Luther J • Lisa S • Janet B • Diane H • Eileen C • Debra A • Sue W • Larry G • Kimberlee S • Pamela F • Christine K • Margaret M • Michele M • Cornelia S • Kathryn K • Penelope C • Jean Marie S • John H • Marvin S • Elisabeth W • PB • Millard B • Kathryn G • Fareshta A • Grace K • Janet A • Kathryn T • Alicia W • Anna G • Andra E • Daniel C • Susan C • Mizuho K • Karen K • Gwynne B • Joan L • Megan M • Julie G • Ellen P • Monisha S • Erin M • Anne R • Lynn T • David H • Jennifer J • Barbara C • Carrie C • Orlando M • Jeanne M • Fran M • Bill S • Andrew S • Kathleen S • Lynn W • Harry M • Hilary J • Ben H • Katie H • Nancy S • Lucie L • Kathleen K • Debra H • Linda S • Raymond D • Diane P • Terri A • Giorgia O • Maureen G • Elinor M • Susan S • Nancy R • Elaine J • William O • Cheryl P • Aaron S • Erica M • Grace W • Tracy L • Andrea N • Michelle S • Dollie R • Robert D • Mary N • Connie M • Daphne K • Iman E • Laura B • Andrea W • Jacqui C • Falisa K • David J • Victoria P • Jessica P • Denise B • Aimee S • Mark My Words Inc • Bolton L • Cynthia N • Gail P • Amanda M • Karen G • Gabriela J • Marcia E • Douglas R • ThuyHoa N • Barbara D • Xiania F • Amy U • Amy B • Heather D • Elizabeth S • Jeffrey P • Charlene L • Ellyn P • Mona K • Barbara G • Linda L • Raquel H • Casonya J • Catherine D • Leslie H • Ruth M • Jacquelyn S • Kristi C • Karen O • Elaine D • Tom H • Zara H • Courtney D • Derby City CPR LLC • Beth I • Diana M • Yun C • Frederik K • Robyn R • June G • Anna B • James H • Deborah M • John E • Anna B • James H • Deborah M • John E • Anne W • Maureen G • Nancy H • Barbara S • Mindy O • Elizabeth S • Helen H • Stephanie J • Cathy F • Amy S • Heather A • Courtney S • Catherine H • Ken M • Christina G • Scott W • E Rahn • Caroline C • Garrett L • Kay M • Margaret H • Katherine D • Michael E • Jo S • Adrienne T • Lisa F • Michelle J • Blythe M • Marilyn B • Christina R • Diane B • Catherine R • Victoria M • Jennifer B • Linnea C • Reycia G • Amanda R • Judith A • Beth L • Juleen C • Great Lake Zen Center • Elizabeth S • John F • Lynn W • Richard M • Brandi P • Nicole B • Brittany A • Meladie GB • William S • Terry Y • Jen’s Treasures • Steffanie NH • Michael M • Richard D • Erin M • Kayann M • Joseph H • Mary Anne H • Getting to Know Inc • Demaris K • Ellen T • Maria M • Carlin H • Judy C • Katherine W • Rachel T • Anne C • Randy M • Katherine B • Denise P • Tuan T • Mary C • Maria A • Mariah C • Marie S • Nicole P • Emily C • Judith M • KS • Jeanne B • Terrie P • Leah L • Fynnette E • Deepa L • Jenifer W • Jane L • Rosa D • Laurie S • Linda D • Suzanne W • Michael M • Jeanne G • Chelsea S • Liz M • Laurana M • Chevy Chase Library • Carmen C • Harriet G • Patricia W • Carolyn F • Ann Moss • Jeanne F • Nadia G • Sophie W • Takoma Park Co-op
Who Are We Working With Along With You?
We partnered with KindWorks, a 501(c)(3) in Montgomery County, MD, to accept cash donations, spread the word, and collect items on the needs list. On the receiving side, we worked with Catholic Charities – Laredo, TX (CCL) and the Rio Grande Valley, with the Angry Tias and Abuelas in Brownsville, and with Elora Mukherjee, the lawyer who first raised the alarm about the conditions in the children’s center in Clint, TX.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Home Depot, Aspen Hill; Penske Truck Rental, Rockville, MD; ExtraSpace Storage, Kensington, MD; and the Lions Club of Laytonsville, MD.