First Impressions

First impression of the Humanitarian Respite Center:  What the place offers is amazing.  Immigrant families are welcomed, offered a shower, clothing, food, a place to rest in and assistance with transportation to their final destination.  Entire families walk in with nothing, no luggage, no backpack, nothing.  These are not people who are going on vacation - they are moving from their home countries for good and most of them have had their shoe laces and belts confiscated at the Detention Center. 

The organization is bizarre.  A woman showed us around for maybe 5 minutes.  She asked us to help with the distribution of clothing.  Twenty minutes later the 4 of us were In charge of the clothing area.  At 1:00 when we wanted to break for lunch the volunteer coordinator said great, there aren't a lot of people right now, we'll just shut it down until you get back.

The tasks are as varied as anyone could imagine.  On my way to the supply area (think a 90 degree, 2nd floor warehouse) to find hotel-style shampoos, I stopped to clean up after a little boy who was throwing up.  He had just gotten out of the detention center that day and while the center is air conditioned, it was 100 degrees outside.   There are stacks of gym type mats that the families unstack and sleep on.  If they happen to be in the shelter overnight, that's where they will stay.  We also provided hygiene items, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste but not soap.  There is liquid soap inside the showers.  We made a refrigerator full of sandwiches, ham, cheese and bread.  

I wish I spoke and understood Spanish.  I could not have been more impressed with Kathleen and Erin's ability to communicate.  At one point in the afternoon the coordinator asked Erin and me to bring a woman and her daughter to the airport (very much a rarity).  While we were gone Kathleen dealt with a medical emergency and Cathy sorted donated items, made sandwiches and worked the hygiene area, all with a smile on her face making people feel welcome and comfortable.

 Lastly, the whole organization seems very loosely run.  "Here is what needs to be done, ok see ya."  People donate stuff.  People show up wanting to help so they sort the donated stuff.  People need a change of clothing so we give them some of the donated stuff.  In it's most simplistic form, this is what the HRC does.  When we were homeless you gave me a place to rest, when I was hungry you fed me.  When I needed clothing, you clothed me.  God bless the people we met today from McAllen, Chicago, Vancouver, Washington, Austin and the nun who brought some of her students from New Jersey.