One of Friends of the Poor’s most enduring and cherished relationships of support is with Casa de Los Pobres in Tijuana, Mexico. Casa is an urban relief center that feeds, clothes and provides medical care and social services to the very poor. It’s a truly remarkable and inspiring place, run by an order of Catholic nuns and a joyfully intrepid team of co-workers.
With the assistance of Friends of the Poor, Casa serves more than 300,000 hot meals per year, and distributes 27,000 bags of groceries. Around 20,000 people annually receive free medical attention in the on-site clinic. For those living in the outlying makeshift settlements (“colonias”) surrounding Tijuana who have no means of transport into the city center, workers from Casa take staple foods, clothing, tarps and other necessities directly to them.
UPDATE: Casa de los Pobres desperately needs your help! The combination of the serious economic downturn and the horrific drug cartel violence afflicting Tijuana has created a steep decline in both donations and volunteers. Without Casa doing what it does, day after day after day, the very bad situation in Tijuana would become incomparably worse. Whatever you can contribute would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!