Every day we hear more about the terrible conditions facing children as well as women and men in detention centers along our southern border.  It seems the situation is simply unconscionable.  Many of my friends tell me they feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by those images of children in filthy and overcrowded conditions.  Let’s face it, these conditions do not even seem humane.  

What can we do?  I tell my friends who ask, you can help.  There are ways.  You can certainly write your representatives in Congress and urge them to support legislation that provides emergency funding for humane treatment of people in detention.  You can donate to organizations that are serving the immigrant population.  The Sisters of Divine Providence sponsor a refugee house for immigrants in San Benito, Texas.  It is La Posada Providencia and they would be most happy to receive donations.  They have served over 10,000 clients from 85 countries.  Any help you give would be greatly appreciated.

We cannot continue to look away.  This is a crisis at our borders.  People are risking everything to protect their lives and the lives of their children.  They need our help, our prayers, and our resources.  Reach out where you can.  Write letters, make phone calls.  Spread the word about places to offer your donations.  If not La Posada, then perhaps Catholic Charities.  We need to act.

Barbara McMullen, CDP