King's Students Support Migrant Families in Texas

Left to right: Veronica McClelland, Bryanna Nelson, Jayline Cruz, Carlos Contreras, Ashley Taveras, Martin Lacayo, Lauren Beck, Allison Malone, and Maura Modrovsky. (Photo: kingsvolunteers on Instagram) 

As appeared in The Crown on Feb 11, 2025

By: Jayline Cruz, Staff Writer 

The WinterSERVE group spent time preparing and serving food and drinks for the families. There was also a group helping out in the “farmacia,” a place within the center where families can find everyday over-the-counter medications. The days were long. Volunteers worked from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. most days. But something that kept the group going was thinking of the long journey these families had been on to arrive at this place.  

The group also heard many talks from people who deal with these issues, including Sister Norma Pimentel, the person behind the entire idea of the Respite Center. Pimentel shared her story of how she saw a need in her community and how she confronted it head on. The Respite Center, she explained, has grown from humble beginnings of working out of a parish hall to obtaining a space that could hold up to two thousand people at one point in time. Norma Pimentel also emphasizes the importance of leading with love and dignity, this is something really important to the center. One of their main missions is to restore human dignity to people who have been stripped of it.  

Father Pat Sietz was another person that the group heard from. Sietz shared his story of how God had called him to help those in need across the border by providing them with care packages containing hygiene materials to help restore some of the dignity that they have lost. This highlighted the support the migrants need as they make their journey to America. Although this is a grand act, there are other ways to help those who have recently arrived. There are places across the country that are dedicated to serving the immigrant community providing them with the much-needed support that they need during this long process. 

Another speaker the group was able to hear from, was Pastor Yohanna, someone trying to make a difference on the Mexico side of things. He stressed the importance of being hospitable to people regardless of their background. Such a simple concept that has gotten lost in time due to recent trends of wanting to protect oneself and reality of social distancing that Covid introduced. He wished for the world to be a more hospitable place and one that is led by love. 

At the center, King’s College members interacted with families and made connections. A beautiful moment was had at the McAllen Airport. While waiting for their connecting flight to Dallas the group encountered one of the families that they had met at the center. This family then proceeded to be on each one of their returning flights. During the waiting time between flights games and snacks were had between the children and King’s students.  

After arriving in Philadelphia, the family and group of college students and staff finally exchanged goodbyes. The King’s group returned to Wilkes-Barre while the family continued their trip on to their new home elsewhere. Moments like these are so special, because finding a group of people you know and are confrontable with can make the journey much easier for the travelers.