Humanitarian Respite Center
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“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.”
– Matthew 25:35
Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley is fully committed to the mission of helping those in need of care in our community, including immigrants.
We thank all Humanitarian Respite Center supporters who have joined ongoing efforts to restore human dignity to the thousands of immigrants who have been offered care since June 9, 2014.
Our humanitarian response was initiated after seeing many immigrants dropped off by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the bus station in downtown McAllen.
Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV) with the help of community volunteers and donations, opened what we thought would be a temporary location at Sacred Heart Church, in the City of McAllen. 10 years later we continue to offer families care at our respite center on S. 15th Street. The center provides a place for the countless men, women, children, and infant refugees to rest, have a warm meal, shower, and change into clean clothing as well as receive medicine and other supplies, before continuing on their journey.
It is important that people understand that the families we assist at the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, have been released from federal custody and arrive at our shelter through daily coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), city and local community volunteers and CCRGV staff. They are released by CBP with a document that gives them permission to travel to their points of destination where they follow up with their immigration proceedings.