Please bring a pair of shoelaces on Sunday, January 26 as we recognize the year anniversary of the implementation of Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP). As volunteers in our hospitality ministry know, US officials take shoelaces from asylum seekers so that they do not harm themselves in detention. But then they send families with children back to dangerous and unfamiliar Mexican border towns. There, human traffickers and cartels target these families for extortion and trafficking, because no shoelaces means no local connections. The “Remain in Mexico” policy delivers families into the hands and traffickers #unintendedties.  We will display the shoelaces in a form of prayer and connection with families who are suffering these consequences, and will update you on other events to bring attention to this tragedy. 

Saturday, January 25 6:00pm

First Christian Church’s kitchen will be used Saturday, January 25, to prepare and serve pasta with a side of peace at the Tucson Peace Center’s annual vegetarian spaghetti dinner.

Dinner is served at 6:00 pm and continues until the spaghetti runs out.

A donation of $10 is suggested (kids’ meals $5), but not required. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The evening will include a silent auction, information on Sanctuary Cities, good conversation, music, and great food.

All are welcome!

Help support the Tucson Peace Center with the purchase of grand raffle tickets for just $20. Tickets available at FCC on the bulletin board at the back entrance and can be mailed in for entry. The $20 also covers a 1-year membership with the Peace Center to receive the monthly Calendar.

Students have returned from the Winter holiday, and food is needed on campus. Please remember to bring your donations for the Campus Pantry. Click here to view the acceptable items!

The leaders of our hospitality ministry met with Casa Alitas staff and leaders of the other off-site shelters this week. Due to lower numbers of families allowed to enter the United States while going through proceedings for their asylum case, the off-site shelters will not open in the immediate future. In the meantime, we will seek other opportunities to serve families seeking asylum both in advocacy work and direct service in the United States and across the border in Nogales, Sonora. Please stay tuned for dates and updates on the following:

1. Volunteer appreciation potluck for all offsite shelter volunteers to get to know one another and learn of volunteer needs. Date TBD. 

2. New projects at the Casa Alitas Welcome Center.

3. Participation in the local Save Asylum campaign. We will inform you of events and actions as we learn of them.

4. Visit to Nogales, Sonora to learn of needs in the shelters and how best to offer support.