UMW Call to Action at Annual Conference 2019: Donate Items for Migrants

The Good Neighbor Settlement House is a non-profit multi-service agency in Brownsville Texas serving needy men, women and children by providing the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, showers and hot meals. Today, they offer respite to migrant asylee seekers daily.

Members of the Rio Texas Conference United Methodist Women are collecting tote bags filled with hygiene items for Holding Institute in Laredo and Good Neighbor Settlement House in Brownsville. These two centers are National Mission Institutions and are trying to respond to the needs of hundreds of migrants arriving daily.

Everyone is invited to participate in this project. Please bring your bags to the Mission Breakfast on Friday morning or the UMW Luncheon on Friday at noon. UMW will accept donations at their display table in the exhibit hall.

If you are not attending Annual Conference, you may send your bags with your clergy or lay delegates.

These are the most-needed items: 

·       Shampoo

·       Wash cloths

·       Bath soap/body wash

·       Lotion

·       Toothpaste/toothbrushes

·       Chapstick

·       Deodorant (women and men)

·       Hairbrush

·       Band aids

·       Disposable razors

·       Wet wipes

·       Feminine pads

·       Kleenex  

·       Tote bags

·       Non-perishable snacks

Travel sizes are also acceptable.

Gift cards to Walmart and Target are also accepted.

Please contact Rio Texas Conference President Grace Perez with any questions.

Located in downtown Laredo, Texas, Holding Institute is in covenant relationship with the United Methodist Women and in collaboration with other community partners, we are responding to the needs of women, children, youth, and families. Holding Institute hosts 40 to 60 migrant asylum seekers weekly. Lately, upwards of 100 persons have been sleeping at Holding nightly.