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Want more details about what we do? Scroll below to find stories and the latest updates about how our work is helping make an impact. We invite you to learn more about our efforts and help spread the word about our important cause.

Note: asylum seekers and other migrants encountered at the shelters are referred to by an initial to protect their privacy.

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5/20/25

SSF Shelter Report 

Doug Schnare and Carol Wingo crossed into Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico this morning with little fanfare. The Mexican National Guard is sporting new uniforms- black pants, a black long-sleeved undershirt, a khaki short-sleeved shirt over that, and a snappy cap reminiscent of the French Foreign Legion, but black. Very sharp, but also very hot. The guards were polite and waved them through when told the boxes and boxes of food from Cactus Cupboard and the big bag of coffee from Jim Marx were donations for migrants in town. 

At Casa Del Migrante Shelter numbers remain about the same; though the man whose name Carol finally learned last week left last night for his home in Mexico City, Gallo (his nickname, not his real name) is back and greeted the volunteers with a hug and huge smile. They talked for awhile with the manager and learned that the situation is still quiet in Sonoyta, and work continues to be difficult to get. He told them he used to work two jobs in California, painting houses by day and waiting tables at night. He also was a farm laborer at times, following the crop cycle up and down the state. The bedbugs have been dealt with, by the way. 

After a nice lunch at Stanza with the cook (his dentures are finally fitting well and he had a hamburger ‘Texas Style’ - roasted jalapeño pinned to the bun with a toothpick), the volunteers and cook shopped at two grocery stores: the cabbages, zucchini, and cilantro are better at Supermercado Fer Vas, and the rest of the groceries are less expensive at Bodega Aurrera. They also bought medications and paid the electric bill at Bodega Aurrera. In the parking lot they fed three hungry dogs, then delivered the groceries (such an old-fashioned word!) back to CDM.

In other news, two teens were among many who graduated high school last night. Four years ago, these two were living with their parents in an abandoned house in Sonoyta with no running water, no windows, no doors, and only an open fire for cooking. Their parents got hold of workbooks though, and the kids would sit out under the shade of a tree and do their schoolwork. They were among the lucky ones who were able to cross with a Title 42 exception to request asylum, and last night the teens made their parents proud. Though they fear that the current situation could cause them to lose their asylum claim, they are trying hard to grab and hold onto that brass ring. 

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May 13, 2025

SSF Shelter Report 

Return of the Chinchas (bedbugs)!

Samaritanos Sin Fronteras volunteers Tom and Carol Wingo took LOTS of donations to migrant shelters in Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico this morning. Rosalie Bustos sent underwear, t-shirts, towels, wash cloths, travel containers for soaps, a hair trimmer, and doggy tick treatment. From Joyce Millar of Cactus Cupboard in Why, AZ they picked up chapsticks, socks, boots, backpacks, soaps, and vitamin water additives. They had no problems crossing the border with all the goodies. It may be a coincidence, but it seems that with the new administration in place, the Mexican National Guard has been much warmer toward SSF. Was that tactful enough 😁?

When the volunteers arrived at Casa Del Migrante shelter, there was no mention of bedbugs. The old cook was there and greeted Tom and Carol with a big hug. W told Carol he wanted to paint the rest of the interior of dorm 1; because of the paint odor and R’s asthma, he is not in favor of it. The men will have to decide the issue among themselves. M asked for a new pair of slip-on sneakers. He has arthritis and has trouble tying shoelaces. 

After lunch with the cook at La Stanza where he got a mini lesson on how to send photos to friends using his new cell phone, it was time to shop at Bodega Aurrera for the weekly groceries. The cook fed several stray dogs on the way back to CDM, where the men quickly lined up to unload the groceries. Still no talk of bedbugs!

The volunteers checked on Mona. She is healing well, though she may be purple for awhile. She, Chiquita, and Canelo are the old guard now; thank goodness Azul and Chihuahua, the youngsters, are beginning to calm down. The cook keeps a piece of fencing and a cement block over Señor Pequeño’s wheelbarrow, or else Azul would pop the little turtle in her mouth for a light but crunchy snack. Still no mention of bedbugs!

The garden is coming along. The plants are big enough to defy the rascally rabbits, and it looks like CDM will have a nice little crop of watermelons, cantaloupe, and squash in a month or two. After taking some garden pictures, Tom and Carol were saying their goodbyes to the manager, and NOW W came up to tell the manager in rapid Spanish that there is an infestation of bedbugs! He brought a squished one to show Carol 😳 to make sure she understood they were not baby cockroaches (o boy). After a little discussion, it was decided that the cook will purchase the insecticide. The shelter has a sprayer, so they will get right to work. It may take several applications, but hopefully they will eradicate them fast - before next week’s visit!

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Link to FMM form:

https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html

Note: SSF is no longer able to accept donations meant for the family shelter, Centro de Esperanza. If you have items you’d like to donate to the families, please go Shelters for Hope’s website to contact the shelter owners:

https://www.sheltersforhope.com

Gotta be flexible in these trying times! Heads up and hug someone ❤️

————————————————Samaritanos Sin Fronteras Amazon wishlist:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/6SDJCN1N0XMX?ref_=wl_share

or if you’re in Ajo and have donations, contact one of the members of SSF who will be glad to deliver them. We all make a difference.

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