We can each find a way to help children at the border. I remind myself often to give of my time, talent, and treasure. When I was young I had time and as a nurse a skill that many shelters needed. As my career progressed I had little time, but more money. We each have something we can do to help children at the border. What can you do?
Here is a list of some of the places that you can donate money or your skills.
Humanitarian Respite Care needs donations. They accept donations of time, money, or supplies through Amazon Wish List. If donating money it goes to Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and notes on the check that your donation is designated for humanitarian response.
USA Today published an article on how to assist, How to Assist Families and Children at the Border.
Rising Together has a list of needs from lawyers wishing to volunteer.
Humane Borders has regular meetings in Tucson. They provide water drops and other activities and accept groups to join them. There was recent media coverage of a person being arrested for water drops and as provoked by the devil as I believe that arrest to be it is something that requires a person to consider the risk they are willing to take for their belief in humanity and justice.
The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights provides a list of border advocacy groups. You will find a list of organizations actively working for just and humane border practices in the United States and Mexico. Many of them have volunteer programs while others provide advocacy tools and ways to get involved.
There are makeshift clinics providing care and volunteer physicians and nurses. The best way to find the clinics is to speak with local advocates.
The Asylum Seekers Advocacy Project has opportunities to donate, get updates, and apply for jobs and internships. Follow them on Twitter @asylumadvocacy.
The Women’s Refugee Commission improves the lives and protects the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. They research their needs, identify solutions and advocate for programs and policies to strengthen their resilience and drive change in humanitarian practice. They have a useful list of resources.
The National Association of Social Workers has a list of ways to volunteer to help children separated from parents. It is one of the better lists I’ve seen.
