Tears and laughter, a long drive with no A/C, chilaquiles: weekend of hospitality

Holly, one of our most experienced house coordinators, served last weekend along with Erin, a volunteer who generously jumped in at the last minute for someone who couldn’t make it. We always appreciate last-minute volunteers! 

On Saturday morning, a Nicaraguan family of five dropped by and waited at the house until SDC called and let them know they could visit. A woman from North Carolina and her two children also arrived; they were driving seven hours each way without air conditioning to see their loved one.

When our guests went to SDC, Holly and Erin organized closets and hosted a TV crew from Univision. The crew made video calls to people in SDC and talked with the guests. (We want people to know about SDC, so we work with the media when possible. Families ALWAYS have a choice whether to speak to reporters or appear on camera.) 

For lunch, Erin cooked up some delicious chilaquiles , making use of the many eggs in the fridge. Everyone loved it! 

Later, Holly visited a young man from Nicaragua who was kicked out of his house as a teen for being gay. He has been detained for a year. They cried as he shared his experience being on his own and of the nightmare of detention, and they laughed as he talked about all the highly dramatic telenovelas he and many of the others watch to pass the time. 

The Nicaraguan family returned to Gwinnett, and the North Carolina family spent the night. They got up the next morning and visited their loved one again before heading back with a gas card, assorted fast food gift cards, and food from the house. Thank you to everyone who donates gas cards and other gift cards. Our families really appreciate them! We recently received an envelope stuffed with gas cards from a church in North Carolina, and we are so grateful. 

After everyone was on their way, Holly and Erin cleaned up and headed back to Atlanta. Holly brought home duvet covers from all 18 of our beds, is washing them this week, and will deliver them to another volunteer to take back to the house next weekend. 

As weekends go, this was a quiet one. Come volunteer with us!