San Antonio, TX – Travis Park United Methodist Church proudly commemorates the 5th anniversary of its Puente Pal T-Shirt Dolls ministry, a heartfelt ministry initiative providing comfort to migrant children. Founded in 2019 by Kathleen Laborde, Ralph Laborde, and Isabel Laborde, this program repurposes old t-shirts into soft, pillow-like dolls for children in transit. The ministry began during an influx of migrant families seeking asylum crossing into Texas. Travis Park Church found itself in a position to help the thousands of migrants who used San Antonio for a hub. Most of them arrived with only the clothes they wore and the supplies they could carry, leaving the children with no toys or items of comfort for the long bus and plane trips ahead.

Puente Pal dolls are large enough for a pillow and soft enough for a child to carry. Through monthly workshops at Travis Park Church and with the help of like-minded organizations taking up the cause, the Puente Pal program has delivered thousands of dolls nationwide, even reaching shelters in New York City.

Organizations interested in hosting a local Puente Pal workshop can contact founder Kathleen Laborde for more information. This is a great team building activity for groups of 10 or more, and generally lasts for 1.5-3 hours. 

For more information, photos and a detailed history of this ministry, visit our web page at Travis Park Church Puente Pal Dolls.

Puente Pal Contact: 

Kathleen Laborde
Email: kathleen.laborde15@gmail.com, (public-facing email: puentepaldoll@gmail.com)
Phone: (210) 885-1864

Church Contact:

Travis Park United Methodist Church
230 E. Travis Street
communications@travispark.org

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ABOUT TRAVIS PARK CHURCH

Established in 1846, Travis Park United Methodist Church is grounded in history and vision. Founded by the Rev. John Wesley DeVilbiss, missionary to The Republic of Texas, who in 1844 preached the first protestant sermon ever heard in San Antonio and in 1846 organized the congregation in the courthouse. Travis Park Church is affiliated with the Reconciling Ministries Network, a group of congregations and groups worldwide which have adopted statements welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Travis Park Church is also a Lighthouse Congregation in the Rio Texas United Methodist Conference, and is a welcoming place for those whose church has closed or disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church. In 2021, Travis Park Church celebrated 175 years in the community with a commemorative 3500 sq. ft. “All Are Welcome, Love Conquers Hate” mural installation overlooking the Travis Park Church parking lot on Travis Street. 

In March 2024, Travis Park Church celebrated 25 years of the ministry of Corazon. Corazón Ministries (DBA Corazón San Antonio) has been proud to serve those in need in the San Antonio community since 1999, when a group of individuals from Travis Park United Methodist Church began providing meals on Sunday mornings to anyone who was hungry. The group soon realized that most people lining up for breakfast were unhoused, living on the streets in the adjacent park. Within months these dedicated volunteers were serving 75-80 meals every Sunday. The leadership of the church began listening and responding to additional needs; by 2004 Corazón was established as an independent 501(c)(3) dedicated to serving hundreds of San Antonio’s most vulnerable residents each year with a wide array of services.

Today, Corazon has expanded services to include a Day Center and Resource Hub at Grace Lutheran Church, The Harm Reduction & Drop-In Center, and Deborah’s House sober-living home.

travispark.org