What to bring and what to expect

About the trip

Before Leaving
• Find your US passport and assure that it is up to date—expired ones work, but you MUST have it.
• Travel lightly and comfortably, there is not a lot of walking.
• Bring US cash for taxi and one credit card if desired—notify credit card company of out-of-country use.
• You MUST bring and wear a mask when you cross the border.
• Provide the leader of your group with your emergency contact information/phone and e-mail.
• It will be helpful to ensure that you have at least 2-3 Spanish-speaking folks in your group.
• Coordinate and verify the time and place of your local departure to/from Calexico, CA.

Day Of The Trip
• We meet at the Holiday Inn in Calexico no later than 9:00 a.m. Bathroom and check-in here.
• We will call taxis to take us to the border, which is ten minutes away.
• We do not show passport going into Mexico. We do place carry-on items on a scanner.
• In Mexico, dozens of taxis await. We take a taxi to the Cobina Posada Del Migrante Shelter.
• We will leave at 3:30 pm to walk back across the border. You must show your passport to get into US.
• It costs $6 per taxi no matter how many are in the group. You will take a total of 4 taxis during the day: 2 in US and 2 in Mexicali.

General Information About Where We Go
• We will be at the Cobina Posada Del Migrante, a shelter for 150 family members.
• Grocery shopping for food is part of the trip. Each group is asked to bring $2,000. Food is loaded onto a truck and delivered to the shelter. Residents unload; no heavy lifting for volunteers.
• We may need to go by taxi to other stores, e.g. the pharmacy, Walmart or Smart & Final.

General Information About What We May Do
• Play various games with children which you, the volunteers, bring for them. These could include coloring or painting, bubbles, jump rope, balls, etc. Have contests, prizes or bring a piñata or two.
• Distribute ice cream or other treats for everyone from your group.
• Have lunch with residents, which BC will provide.
• Meet with several parents who will share their stories with you.
• Have a prayer ritual and give small gifts. Everyone loves to have a blessing and they enjoy singing, too.
• Volunteer Attorneys may visit with individual families or in small groups.
• Healthcare volunteers, doctors or nurses, will meet with the shelter nurse or see some residents.
• Videographers and photographers should have a signed release, which BC can provide.

Location and Contacts
Cobina Posade Del Migrante, Avenida Jalisco, No. 46, COLONIA Pueblo Nuevo, Mexicali Border Compassion: Sister Suzanne Jabro, CSJ 213.305.6755 [email protected] BC Shelter Assistant: Alexis Irving 52 686 346. 5708| www.Border-Compassion.org

Border Compassion is a non-profit, faith-based, grassroots effort to respond to the needs of families who have migrated to the USA border crossing at Calexico/ Mexicali. These asylum seekers left their homes to escape violence, poverty and climate disasters.

The mission of Border Compassion is to invite faith-communities to “cross-over” at the Calexico border to offer a compassionate humanitarian response to families living at the Cobina Posada del Migrante Shelter, which houses up to 150 people.