SAN BENITO — Volunteer groups regularly visit La Posada Providencia.
This past Monday, shelter officials had the privilege of hosting a group of high school students who partnered with Guadalupe Regional Middle School in Brownsville to visit the shelter and lend a hand.
The out-of-state group traveled to the Rio Grande Valley to learn about the border region and immigration issues.
“We always enjoy hosting groups that come from out of town to help them learn about the border and immigration issues,” said volunteer coordinator Adriana Garcia.
La Posada Providencia, founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, is a ministry for people in crisis from around the world, who are seeking legal refuge in this country.
The shelter staff provides a safe and welcoming home, mentors to promote self-sufficiency and cultural integration, and imparts values “which witness God’s Providence in our world.”
This week, the group volunteered by tutoring clients in English as a second language classes and by completing yardwork.
After a morning of hard work, students and clients came together to enjoy lunch.
The menu included spaghetti, a fresh garden salad, French bread and fresh fruit.
Once everyone was fed and rested, the students and clients played a few games of Loteria or Chalupa, which is a traditional Mexican bingo game that uses images of characters and items instead of numbers.
“Interacting with the clients while playing a fun game of bingo is another way for everyone to practice their English and Spanish,” said client mentor Sister Thérèse Cunningham.
Just this summer, the shelter provided services to 199 people from July 1 to Sept. 30.
All of the shelter’s clients are referred by the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement or local immigration attorneys.
They are in the legal process of seeking asylum, residency or some other legal alternative.
While they wait for their cases to advance through the court system, most of these individuals have no place to go and arrive at La Posada’s doorstep with nothing.
Staff members ensure they receive the necessary legal aid, health care, social services and other relocation assistance.
They also rely heavily on their volunteers.
