“Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.”

Psalm 22:9
 casa-colonia

 “We stuffed our little truck full of food early one morning and drove about 45 minutes to a remote Colonia.  Smoke, dust, garbage everywhere, random collections of wood and scrap stacked together to pass for shelters — many side-by-side, all covered with black soot and white ash.”

“On the way to our distribution site was a cube the size of a small house with noxious black smoke and flames escaping from above. This brown chimney was the community’s primeval kiln used to make bricks and served as a main source of income. It felt almost an insult to give to these poor so little:  a pint of rice and beans, six pieces of fruit, and possibly a chair.”  Nicholas Baylor, SJ

BLANKETS and STAPLE FOOD ITEMS are NEEDED NOW!

colonia-childThe people living in the Colonias outside the city are especially distressed due to our recent rains and extreme cold in the mornings and evenings. They have difficulty getting to and from their homes because of deep ruts that make the dirt roads nearly impassable. The struggle of these people for the basic necessities of life is unrelenting.

The Casa is swamped with requests for extra FOOD and BLANKETS.

The Sisters request donations of:

  • Blankets
  • Staple Food Items:  beans, rice, canned tuna, peanut butter, flour
  • Children’s vitamins, baby Tylenol, diapers, soap — and nonprescription items for babies and children

The part-time Pediatrician in the Clinic is seeing an improvement in preventative care.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR GENEROUS HELP

The people pray each day to thank God for the help your donations provide. In February, girl-large-bag38 families contributed $10,781, including $1,000 from an anonymous San Diego Foundation Fund. The men, women, and children say THANK YOU!  Thank you to those who gave blankets, jackets, sweaters, sweats, bedding, many new tarps and FOOD.

Food, blankets, household items, linens, and toys all require permits to cross the border in the truck. Used clothing must be transported in private cars. The Sisters’ work is difficult and tedious; they are models of patience and love.

We have NO overhead;  everything contributed goes directly to help the people. The truck comes to 6432 Cardeno Drive, La Jolla 92037 every Tuesday to pick up donations.

“This, rather is the fasting that I wish: Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.”  Isaiah 58:6-7

February Report

  • 20,060 persons of all ages were served hot meals in the Casa Dining Room
  • 1,270 General Medical clinic and prescriptions filled
  • 2,650 bags of groceries were given
  • 1,160 families obtained clothes and house supplies
  • 530 people personally attended in Social Service Office
  • Groups came to do haircuts
  • 20 Scholarship aids given
  • 4 trips were made to deliver to some neighborhoods food, clothes, shoes, and blankets.

Our gratitude and prayers.  May this Lent be very blessed for you and your dear ones.