Day Shelter in Ciudad Juarez Helps Children in Crisis

Volunteer and child (June 2013)  Photo: Victoria Tester

Casa de Soles de Anapra, in Ciudad Juarez, is a community-run day shelter aimed at helping children whose parents have been killed or incarcerated for drug-related crimes. The center provides food, education and healing for more than 65 children whose families have suffered immensely during Mexico's recent crisis.  Here's an excerpt from an article that the El Paso Times published in April of this year.

"The majority of the children that come here are not with their parents, either because they were killed, or are in prison or (they) just abandoned them," said [founder Lourdes] Contreras, who runs the center in a three-room house owned by a woman who is currently in jail for drug crimes. "Many of these kids just need to be hugged and listened to."   Read full article

School Supplies Needed
The center is in need of school supplies. Your donations of spirals, primary tablets, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons and drawing paper can make a huge difference in the life of a child orphaned by the crisis. If you live in the El Paso-Las Cruces area and can help, please contact Mario Alcazar, member of St. Raphael Church in El Paso at 915-309-7699, or email alcazm1223@yahoo.com.