Blankets on the Border

Dear All:
I thought the description below was poignant. Deportations often occur in the middle of the night so that the private company is reimbursed for two days work, even though this is the coldest period in the high desert. EMAP National Office began sending blankets in 2004 and this regional EMAP took up their request in 2005 on referral from the last EMAP Director Shahina Malik. Local Quakers are involved in the effort (Healing Borders).
For four years we have shipped them blankets and this is a call for good quality used/new blankets for next years shipment. If you come here for a meeting and want to drop off a blanket, do so! This is part of our bit to support Migration and Mobility Goal.
~Stephen McNeil

Assistant Regional Director for Peacebuilding and Relief Work

American Friends Service Committee

"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." - Audre Lorde
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Dear Stephen and AFSC,

Thank you for the latest shipment of blankets for use by migrants being returned to Mexico after being apprehended by the Border Patrol. The blankets are much appreciated.
Friday I loaded 8 boxes of blankets in my car and took them to a drop off place in Bisbee, AZ. It was snowing when I was unloading them. By now they will be at the newly opened Migrant Center in Naco, Sonora. The Naco Migrant Center is in the next town west of us, here in Douglas. I hope you will approve of our sharing your gift with them. Already, in just a little over a month since they have been open, about 1,400 migrants have stopped at the Naco Center. Saturday morning I visited the Naco Migrant Center for the first time to help them celebrate their official open house festivities.
Earlier in the week, on Thursday evening, I spent from 9pm -1am at our Agua Prieta Migrant Center. It was just prior to the weather change and the snow we recieved on Firday. While I was there we fed burittos and coffee to 49 migrants who came through, and offered them whatever other services they might need. By Friday night I would imagine blankets would have been one of these needs. Of the 49 people, I saw at least one young boy and at least 1/2 dozen women. Most of the group were younger men.
Again, thank you and AFSC.
I am hoping can send photos by parcel post at some later time.
Thank you,
Judy Plank