One Family’s Story:

We came to Lumpkin to visit my husband, Johny, Aden and Mallory's Papa. During the waiting process, there was a group of people from El Refugio answering questions, translating, and inviting anyone who needed to rest back to their hospitality house. So after a long day and a very sad but thankful visit with my husband, the kids and I decided to go see what El Refugio was all about. Complete, total strangers were there to greet us with a smile, a hug, a bottle of water and snack, and also a place to rest before our long drive back home. Donors had given gift cards to hand out for gas. They gave us one to get back home with! That really touched my heart!

We made plans to stay at El Refugio when we were able to get another visit with Johny. As we arrived, we were again greeted by lovely volunteers. The house was so open and full of peace! A no judgment zone! They showed us where we would be sleeping. They said, “We are here if you want to talk, or if you just want to be alone, that is fine, too.”

We were in Lumpkin to see Johny that day and to say our goodbyes in the morning, because he had chosen to take deportation instead of staying in that horrible place at Stewart Detention Center. We were very upset, because we didn't know if we would ever see Johny again.

The volunteers at El Refugio welcomed us like family!

How often is it that you sit down at a table to eat dinner with complete strangers and by the end of the night you feel like family!!!! Honestly, this is so HARD to put into words what El Refugio means to me and my kids!

It is hard to believe it has been more than three years since our family was broken apart by detention and deportation. Since Johny was deported, he has missed out on many things, like Aden getting his driver’s license. Mallory said without her Papa she couldn't have a quinceanera. Detention and deportation stole the time he would spend at her basketball and volleyball games and watching her in marching band.

We decided to get involved with El Refugio as donors and volunteers. Mallory created an oil painting for El Refugio's Breaking Out art exhibit. The painting is called, "A home can be a person, too," and it depicts the pain she feels and her desire to hug her dad.

Now that the hospitality house has re-opened post-Covid, we are planning to volunteer. It will mean so much to be able to give to a family what was given to us in one of the hardest times in our life, PEACE!! That is what the house gave us! It gave us shelter from the storms of life!

Without El Refugio, we would not have had a place to stay and be able to see Johny the day before his deportation.

We want El Refugio to be able to continue its work and give peace to others as well.