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Want more details about what we do? Scroll below to find stories and the latest updates about how our work is helping make an impact. We invite you to learn more about our efforts and help spread the word about our important cause.

 Note: asylum seekers and other migrants encountered at the shelters are referred to by an initial or nickname to protect their privacy.

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3/9/26

SSF Shelter Report 

Jan St Peters and I brought donated food and requested summer squash seeds to Casa del Migrante this morning. We’ve ordered a requested air mattress, shoes, t-shirts, tree trimmer, and shoe glue, but those won’t arrive till early next week.

The young dogs at CDM love to stretch their legs and run up the nearby hill every time the shelter gate opens. Niña has several cuts on her legs from her escapades, which the cook has painted with gentian violet antiseptic. She has been trying to lick the affected areas and her tongue is a bit purple as a result, so the cook may have to put a cone of shame on her till she heals. 

A few years ago numbers at CDM were fluctuating between 50 and 75+ guests. There are 3 shelter guests today, plus the manager. The guests greeted us warmly, then helped unload the donations. They worry that with so few guests we will stop supporting them, but we’ve tried to reassure them that as long as one person is there, we will help. And - who knows what the future will bring?

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The manager is suffering from constipation (sorry - we get to hear all their woes!); the cook, because of the iron supplement he’s taking to help with his anemia, has the same problem. My cousin Mary texted me after last week’s report suggesting a gentle laxative, so today, after a nice lunch at Lupita’s Taqueria, we walked over to Farmacia Moderna for some medication. At the counter, the cook looked at me and said, “¿Cómo se dice constipation en español? (What’s the Spanish word for constipation?)” I thought it was a joke or a test, but he was having a senior moment and couldn’t remember the word - and thought I’d know it!🤣 

None of us, including the pharmacist, could read the tiny print on the back of the milk of magnesia bottle, so we had to take a photo and enlarge it and then go to the website for better instructions!

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With the meds in hand we stopped at Bodega Aurrera, the grocery store. We each had a mission: Jan wanted to feed the parking lot dogs, the cook had some antiseptic for the injured dog, and I wanted to pay the CDM electric bill. The littlest pup, already shy, was afraid he’d get squirted with gentian violet and cut us a wide berth. We reconvened inside the store and the cook bought pork chops, beef for carne asada, eggs, bags of apples, oranges, and grapes, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and other good things for the guests to eat this week. 

Back at CDM, the guests brought the groceries into the office area, and Jan and I helped the cook put all the food away. We talked with him and the manager about Easter coming up soon - there are so few people right now we could pile them in Jan’s truck and take them out to lunch that day, but the cook usually invites homeless people camped nearby for the meal, so we’ll see what kind of menu they want. 

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It will be Thursday before the cook receives the results from his lab work. The waiting and worry are taking their toll on him. At lunch he was fatalistic about whether he will live a long life. We said we are fixing all his health issues and he should live to be an old man!

Hug your loved ones tightly and don’t let the bastards grind you down (how much crazier can it get?).

 - Carol

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2/27-28/26

This morning (Friday) the cook took a bus and taxi to a clinic in Puerto Peñasco where he had tests done in preparation for the removal of intestinal polyps. This afternoon he had to begin drinking that nasty liquid to clean his insides. He messaged me that Chiquita was missing him because he always covers her with a blanket at night. M is looking after her, but I suspect the cook is missing Chiquita as much as she is missing him. 

Saturday morning the cook had his procedure - he messaged Jan and me each beforehand expressing his fear. Afterwards the doctor wanted to send the polyps to the pathology lab. We are hoping for good news. He is now back at Casa del Migrante with his beloved Chiquita. 

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3/3/26

SSF Shelter Report

We received several messages from Casa Del Migrante Sunday - the shelter, and most or all of Sonoyta, had no running water for the past 4 days due to repairs being made on the city pipes. Before we could mobilize some kind of water delivery though, the water came back on. Thank you to all the folks we reached out to for help❤️

This morning, Jan St Peters and I drove down to Sonoyta with donations of women’s clothes from Jan Heikes, packs of water from Gene O’Meara, and a plastic kiddie pool I picked up from our local dollar store for all the dogs to splash in when it’s hot.

At the border, the Mexican official was very interested in the pool. “How much did it cost?”  he asked. He had just gotten one for his children. After he waved us through, we stopped briefly at Centro de Esperanza to drop off the women’s clothing. Two men from across the street approached us - they were selling some very fine key hangers. We bought one shaped like a large key. The men had another shaped like a sailboat - if anyone is looking for a key hanger, Centro de Esperanza is the place to go!

At Casa del Migrante, of course all the dogs came out when the gate was opened. We thought they were happy to see us, but they wanted to run up the hill and stretch their legs. Curiosity soon brought them back to CDM however, and we made sure to pet all except Pirata who still has PTSD from the vet’s visit months ago. 

This week CDM only has 3 guests plus the manager. Last week’s guests left a few days ago; we wish them a safe journey, wherever they’re headed. The cook has recovered enough from his surgery and wanted to go out to eat and grocery shopping with us. At Stanza Restaurant, he told us he is still struggling with anemia and wanted to ask the pharmacist next door for a stronger medication, so after we ordered, he and I went to the pharmacy. The gal behind the counter offered him iron injections, and I thought he was going to take off out the door, but she talked him into a liquid medication instead. It contains iron and several other vitamins, and we hope it will finally do the trick. 

After lunch Jan fed a hungry dog outside the restaurant and several more outside Bodega Aurrera, and then we grocery shopped. It doesn’t take long when there are only 4 mouths to feed. The gentleman who cleans cars and helps unload shopping carts was there. He showed us the damage to his right arm - his bicep looks like a potato is embedded under the skin. 

Back at CDM we helped put away the groceries and asked the guests about ongoing needs. Gallo would like some sleeveless t-shirts and new work boots. His current work boots have separated from their soles and look like they are talking back. M would like a pair of slip-on sneakers. His arthritis makes him unable to tie lace up shoes. A new pair of shorts was mentioned, and the cook said he could use a tree lopper to manage the shade tree growing beside the flower garden (which has exploded with blooms!) 

Señor Pequeño, the tiny desert tortoise, was out in his wheelbarrow. He’s still a bit groggy, but with our warm weather, he’s waking up early. Niña, the blue-eyed spotted dog, has a cut on her paw. The cook called the vet while we were there; he will make a house call later today. 

And so we headed back to Ajo, and this long, long report is done!

Hug someone hard and don’t let the bastards grind you down. 

Carol

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2/19/26

SSF Shelter Maintenance Report

Rick Weibel and Tom Wingo brought supplies and tools to Casa Del Migrante this morning for a work day. They replaced shower valves and a urinal valve, hung 2 smoke detectors (one in dorm #3 and one in the outer office area), wired a new light and switch over the cooking area, and set up a work station so the guests could build/replace the window screens in the dorms. 

More wiring remains to be done and more screen spline needs to be added, but today was a pretty good day. 

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1/5/26

Hello Everyone! I hope all of you are well and enjoying time with loved ones. Here in Ajo, we are enjoying the quiet after the holidays and balancing news-viewing 😬 with trips out in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. 

2025 was a busy year for Samaritanos Sin Fronteras. Thanks to our supporters, SSF provided funds for ultrasounds, removal of a benign cyst in a CDM guest’s shoulder, dental extractions for 3 guests, dentures for 2 guests, treatment for amoebic dysentery, antibiotics for an extensive infection of the manager’s upper jaw and sinus, treatment for prostate issues, and over-the counter and prescription medications.

We were also able to purchase a new hot water heater and a new toilet for Casa Del Migrante, essential for health and comfort. 

With our weekly grocery runs, accompanied by CDM’s cook who made a list each week of needed items, we were able to buy food to supply approximately 5,840 meals, including special meal celebrations for Easter, Mexican Independence Day, and Christmas Eve. As part of the Christmas Eve celebration, due to generous donations, each guest received a complete set of new clothes in appropriate sizes: a warm jacket, pants, long-sleeved t-shirt, button-down long-sleeved shirt, underwear, socks, shoes, warm gloves, and a knitted hat, plus there was a fun raffle where each guest won a prize of his choice from food items and extra clothing. 

Animals: as of December, there are 9 dogs at CDM and 1 desert tortoise. SSF, vía Karla Vásquez and Clinica Esperanza, has had 8 of the 9 dogs spayed or neutered. The dogs have also had their shots, and SSF provides their food. If you’re looking for a good dog…..

SSF helped the shelter at the beginning of the year with an invasion of ticks and at mid-year with an invasion of bedbugs, providing chemicals and applicators to rid the shelter of creepy-crawlies. We also provided fly strips and mouse traps for ongoing pest control.

When a former CDM guest needed to return to his home country of Honduras to care for his ailing brother, SSF was able to help him with travel funds, and when a former resident of Casa San Pedro migrant shelter (now closed) whose family entered the US legally seeking asylum had a family member deported and subsequently murdered, SSF supporters raised funds to transport the body from Guadalajara to Guerrero, his mother’s home town, bringing a sad closure to an awful and unnecessary tragedy. 

We are continually amazed at the resilience and kindness of those we encounter at Casa Del Migrante, and at the generosity and support of good people all over the world. You are truly making a difference in the lives of folks who, for whatever reason, can’t reach home. People eat healthy food because of you, they have a comfortable place to stay, clean clothing, medical and dental care, and canine companions (and a tortoise!) to give them affection while they are deciding what to do next. Life is better for guests at Casa Del Migrante because of your support. Thank you.

Attached is our revenue statement for 2025.

Happy New Year, everyone, and don’t let the bastards grind you down. Together we can affect change❤️

- Carol​

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Note: If you are able, please consider a donation either via our website donate button, via Zelle [Samaritanos Sin Fronteras (413)695-9571], or as a check made out to Samaritanos Sin Fronteras/121 Rocalla Ave/Ajo, AZ 85321. Thank you for your continued support.

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Checks can be made out to 

Samaritanos Sin Fronteras 

c/o Doug Schnare, treasurer 

121 Rocalla Ave

Ajo, AZ 85321

Or we can accept Zelle (National Bank of Arizona) or PayPal on our website www.samsinfront.com) 

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Samaritanos Sin Fronteras Amazon wishlist:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/6SDJCN1N0XMX?ref_=wl_share

or if you’re in Ajo and have donations, contact one of the members of SSF who will be glad to deliver them. We all make a difference.

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We have the 2026 Candid Gold Seal of Approval:

https://app.candid.org/profile/15337525/samaritanos-sin-fronteras/?pkId=f10ec1df-6f76-48ce-8507-b32c69ef7ce7&isActive=true