What if I told you you’re the one you’re waiting for to make a difference? I think sometimes we’re all looking around for the professionals and the adults to tell us exactly how to help people, but we’re the adults, you guys.
Read to the end to see EXACTLY how you can help in a very tangible way right now. Then be the adult and tell others.
The crisis at our border is complex, but I know that for many of us one thing is very simple- we want to help.
If you’re like me, you’ve been looking around, trying to figure out where to start. Maybe you’ve posted to social media, like I have, urging others to get involved SOMEHOW. Maybe you’ve donated to RAICES (thank you) or Together Rising (thank you) or one of the many other orgs helping (THANK YOU). Or maybe you’re overwhelmed. There’s a lot of info out there, a lot of lists, and so many of us don’t know where to begin- we don’t know who needs our help most.
I want to tell you about LuLu. If you were following my post on my Facebook page last night, you may have seen this comment I posted:
“People keep messaging me to thank me for speaking out on controversial topics, but the thing is, you guys, there is nothing controversial about this. Why we are not all collectively SCREAMING about this right now is beyond me. I could not possibly care less about offending anyone by standing up for these people. GTFOH if this offends you. Don’t hire me if this offends you. I will not die and the only thing people can say about me is I was a mommy blogger who wrote about stupid shit but never said anything about what’s really important. This platform means NOTHING if I can’t influence positive change with it. This is my ENTIRE MOOD moving forward. UNAPOLOGETIC.”
Followed by LuLu’s reply (btw, I have LuLu’s permission to post this):
Instead, I collected myself (and stopped centering myself) and I told LuLu that I wanted to help. I thanked her for what she’s doing, and I messaged her.
We have been chatting via FB messages since last night. She volunteers at Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition in Del Rio, TX.
They transition refugees after they have been released from federal custody, and according to LuLu, they are could seriously use some help. LuLu says they aren’t getting a ton of money or support. They need supplies and volunteers.
I know that orgs like RAICES are the first step in getting people OUT of these camps, and of course will still support them and amplify their cause, but I told LuLu I’m happy to step in and connect my circles with VVBHC, too.
I can’t fault LuLu for her initial comment to me. I can imagine it gets exhausting being the ones doing the work while bloggers and people online appear to just shout about injustices from their keyboards. I assured LuLu that so many of us want to really make a difference. We’re just all looking for the adult in the room to tell us what to do.
LuLu was that adult for me, and now I’m going to be that adult for you.
ACTION:
To start, VVBHC has an Amazon Wish List with a ton of stuff we can fulfill for them. Items on the list start at just $3.50. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we spread the word and get all of this stuff purchased for them by the weekend? I KNOW WE CAN DO THAT.
I’m awaiting to hear what else we can do for them. I told them to ASK BIG because I know we can come through. I’m not doing this on my own. I’ve reached out to other people in my network. Locally, I’m trying to arrange a trip for volunteers. Del Rio is a couple hours west of San Antonio, where I am currently.
I’ll keep you all posted, of course.
I know that we would love to improve conditions for people, especially children INSIDE the camps (and close the camps altogether), and for that I encourage you to keep calling and emailing your reps. I called mine yesterday. They were very receptive, and I hope to have more information from them soon.
In the meantime, supporting the Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition is a great place to focus our efforts.
And, if you live near a transition center that’s doing this work, reach out to them and see how you can help there. Be the adult you’ve been waiting for.
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12 comments
Thank you for your support and rallying around the VVBHC. Please check out interfaith welcome coalition in San Antonio and Immigrant Resource Center. They need volunteers and supplies desperately.
https://interfaithwelcomecoalition.org/
https://www.sanantonio.gov/humanservices/ImmigrationServices/MRC
Thank you, Tiffany! I’ll be in touch soon to see how we can help with this specific request. Thank you for all you do!
I wanted to buy something from the Amazon list, but between currency conversion from CAD and shipping costs, I feel like my money isn’t very effective. It would cost me almost $35 to send s pack of toddler underwear. Is there a way to donate money directly?
Yes! Go directly to their Facebook page and donate there. They use cash donations to buy items from the stores in their town. http://facebook.com/vvbhc
YES. We have a transition center (Casa de Paz) in Aurora CO and I donated a grocery gift card. People are hungry, that won’t stand. I watched that facebook comment exchange with LuLu real time, and I was so conflicted. – but you handled it with incredible grace. Thank you for what you are doing.
Thanks for posting this, Jill. I am happy to say that I had to try my order a few times, because every time I tried to order one of the single items on the list, it had already been bought by the time I got to check out. Must be a lot of people buying.
Thank you for sharing this!! 💛
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