The Year In Pictures: 2021
We hope you enjoy the pictures that tell the story of this past year. Our work is a process that is designed to move those we serve towards financial independence while improving their physical, spiritual, emotional and educational health. It does not happen overnight, but every program is a step on that journey. Thank you for partnering with us.
A girl transports water using a toy car. The struggle is real - with no access to clean, drinking water at the border, people often find creative ways to haul water back home from a water filling station.
A group of boys hold portable water bottles funded by The Immigration Coalition. The portable water bottles make it easier to stay hydrated.
In 2021, Misión de Caridad distributed enough water to fill 6,000 jugs. Thank you The Immigration Coalition for funding our water program.
A family talks with our Misión de Caridad team while receiving a delivery of healthy groceries. Our Feed-A-Family program delivers healthy groceries to the poorest of the poor in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico.
A display of some grocery items for distribution. Our Feed-A-Family delivery includes: milk, eggs, meats (steak, chicken, sliced turkey and tuna fish), assorted fruits (apples, bananas, oranges, pears, grapes), vegetables (celery, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, avocados, potatoes, carrots, and onions), dry goods (oatmeal, bread, beans, rice, and oil) and a variety of cleaning products and toilet paper.
A family poses for a photo after receiving a delivery of healthy groceries. In 2021, 200+ families received enough food to prepare over 20,000 meals.
Dr. Joe Lee and Dr. John Kwon treat patients at Misión de Caridad’s medical fair. Poor dental health has resulted in many rotten teeth, 1,000+ cavities and significant dental issues in the communities we serve.
Misión de Caridad staff Ivanna treats an elderly patient during a medical fair. In 2021 we treated over 340 patients across 2 medical fairs. We filled cavities, extracted teeth and used sealants and flouride to help prevent future cavities.
Children attend teeth brushing “class” with Ivanna to learn and reinforce proper oral hygiene. In 2021, we ran bi-weekly dental check-ins to teach children proper technique and begin to create healthy dental habits.
A boy demonstrates the brushing techniques taught to him by Ivanna using a dental model. Thank you to Misión de Caridad board member and dentist, Dr. Joseph Lee, for providing this great model.
Above: Ivanna conducts a 1:1 lesson. Below: A young patient holds up a mirror during her dental exam. Showing children the plaque on their teeth provides a teaching moment for the importance of proper brushing.
Dr. Alan Kwon, an optemetrist based in Boston, examines a mother and child during Misión de Caridad’s medical fair. Most of the people who attended our medical fairs had never had an eye exam. Dr. Alan examined and provided glasses to all those that needed them.
A boy undergoes an eye exam during Misión de Caridad’s medical fair. Many children struggled during their eye exam because they did not know the alphabet.
Above: An eye patient tries out her new glasses. Below: Dr. Alan Kwon chooses the right prescription for a young patient.
Nurse Andy takes a young patient’s blood pressure during Misión de Caridad’s medical fair. In addition to screening for common medical issues such as hypertension and diabetes, Nurse Andy also looked for and educated on risk factors.
Misión de Caridad staff member Michell examines a patient under Nurse Andy’s supervision. Our Mexican team is being trained to monitor the health of the community in between medical fairs.
Nurse Andy with a young patient. For many children, Misión de Caridad’s medical fairs was the opportunity for their first ever medical check-up.
A man accepts prayer offered by the Misión de Caridad team during our medical fairs. After their health check-ups, families were given a chance to share their concerns with Misión de Caridad team members and to receive counseling and prayer.
Sisters (Shelly and Alexia), from the Besitos community, wait for their dental exam at our medical fair. “Besitos” is our nickname for this community where we run our programs. The nickname was inspired by Shelly who last winter first greeted us wearing this T-shirt when she told us she was cold at night and needed blankets. Besitos means “little kisses” in Spanish.
7-year-old Milka stands in front of the site where her family’s house burned down. Although no one was hurt, they lost all their possessions. In 2021, MdC helped build a new house for Milka and her family.
Eileen, a single mother from Guerrera, creates a template to start making bags out of recycled plastics. In 2021, we launched our Women’s Work Program to provide opportunities for women to earn an income while working from home.
Eileen washing laundry outside her previous home. When we first met Eileen, she lived in a one-room building next to a busy road and a pile of construction debris. In order to keep her 2-year-old son safe while she worked, she would keep him secured to herself with a rope.
Above: Eileen shows Francisco her first 15 bags, which we purchased to sell in the United States. Eileen was the face behind our pilot program, which we hope to expand on in 2022 to support more women. Below: Eileen’s bags for sale.
A participant of our weight loss program smiles as her measurements are taken during a weekly check-in. In response to an obesity epidemic, Misión de Caridad launched a weight loss program which included nutritional counseling, weight loss seminars, group exercise and walking programs. 25 women participated. Over the course of 4 months, 182 pounds were lost in total!
Participants of our weight loss program exercise using the sneakers and exercise mats provided by Misión de Caridad. Recognizing that many women did not have the tools or appropriate environment to begin exercising, our weight loss program addressed those barriers by providing gear and a safe space for workouts.
Our fitness trainer, Joecelyn, poses with the winner of the award for most pounds lost - over 21 pounds!
A woman sobs while hugging Jean on the last day of the weight loss program. Many women expressed gratitude. One participant said, “No one has ever cared for me this much.”
Misión de Caridad’s holiday photo event provided the first ever family portrait for many. 76 families participated (255 individuals). During the event, we also distributed 190 blankets as well as milk, cookies and chocolate mix.
A young mother poses with her baby during our photo event.
A group of women search for their family portraits taken during Misión de Caridad’s photo event.
Jesus is moved by emotion while holding a framed picture of himself and his wife.
A child poses with her family portrait. The children were very excited to pick-up their framed family photos.
Co-founders Francisco Ortega and Jean Sicurella, during a learning trip to Potter’s House, Guatemala, spend some time reflecting on their trip. During their time with the Potter’s House leadership team, they gleaned many valuable insights into community development and growing as a non-profit.
From our co-founders: We love what we do and we thank you for joining us in this journey to improve the lives of migrants and displaced persons on the Mexico side of the US border. We are excited to soon share with you are 2022 plans.
There is no greater joy……
… than working with kids and families.
Thank you for journeying with us.
Misión de Caridad wishes you a Happy New Year!
Team photo from MdC's first ever medical fair
We would like to acknowledge our dedicated photographer, Unervi, who captured many of the photos shown here. Thank you Unervi for helping us document and communicate the many aspects of Misión de Caridad’s work.
