On a weekly basis, Friends of the Poor collects and delivers food, drinking water, clothing and other necessities directly to 150 families in desperate need living in the impoverished neighborhoods near the Otay border crossing in Tijuana and across the border in Tecate.

During these weekly personal visits, undertaken by FOP board member Carmiña Morfin, arrangements are also made for medical care (from tuberculosis treatment to needed surgeries) through contracting with doctors, hospitals and pharmacies that generously agree to provide these services at a reduced cost.

Read a San Diego Union article about Carmiña's efforts here.

Over the past fiscal year, over $148,000 was raised and used to: build, rebuild, or repair 62 homes; provide medical and dental services (including major surgeries) and medications; provide daily breakfast to children attending 12 schools; provide uniforms, shoes, school supplies, and glasses for students (although education is compulsory in Mexico, children may only attend school in uniform). Friends of the Poor also obtained and distributed 32,000 textbooks in Spanish to 30 schools in the city of Tijuana and to all the schools in the city of Tecate.

For more information on this program please contact Carmiña Morfin at (619) 447-3362