Yesterday, the City of McAllen redirected volunteers who wished to distribute back packs to immigrants at the McAllen Transit Center, to provide those supplies and volunteer efforts to the Immigrant Respite Center run so ably by Sister Norma Pimentel and the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.

This in part, is so that there is no duplication of efforts, so that the immigrants are encountered as few times as possible and treated with respect.  Additionally, City officials need to ensure that there is no disruption of bus services to not only the very immigrants that they are trying to help, but also the 8,000 passengers who daily utilize the facility.

“We recognize and appreciate that many volunteers wish to help these immigrants,” said McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. “However, the best way to assist is to work together with other organizations that have already been serving this community for the past four years.  The Immigrant Respite Center can always use volunteers and donations to help them in their mission to serve these immigrants.  We hope that they will find this a viable alternative to provide their supplies.”

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