Hi, my name is Jim McCauley. I am a clinical social worker, and my area of expertise is psychological trauma. For the last four years, I have volunteered on the Arizona-Mexico border in July to support migrants who have been traumatized and persecuted in their home country. Gang violence, religious persecution, and dire economic circumstances give them little recourse but to leave their home and travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles to keep their families alive and safe.

One safe haven for these families has been the Centro de Esperanza shelter in Sonyata, right on the Mexico-Arizona border. This family-only shelter keeps migrants safe and helps them apply for legal entry into the United States. This refuge feeds 160 people a day ( about 30-40 families) and keeps them safe from drug cartels, sex traffickers, and others who would take advantage of them.

The shelter is very basic. There are only 2 staff; the floor is concrete, and only a metal roof and plastic tarps protect them from the staggering heat that is often over 100 degrees by noon. There is an area in the compound approximately 30' by 30' with a broken concrete floor covered only by a single plastic tarp that I would like to develop into a play area that would allow the children to play safely and freely. A new concrete floor and a metal roof that could withstand monsoon rains and wind would cost approximately $ 8,000-10,000.

Therapeutic play and movement is critical to recovery from trauma so this play area is essential. I have been consulting to this shelter and know they understand how important it is support these children and families who have been so severely traumatized. They have lost all of their worldly possessions yet remain so hopeful about the future. I am committed to this shelter and trust their leadership to make every donated dollar count. Any assistance you can provide would be helpful. If you know others looking for ways to support migrants in their journey to safety, please forward this request to them. And thank you for your consideration. Jim