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The partnership of Serving Hands International and San Francisco Hospital, located in Tijuana, Baja California began in 2004. In April of 2012, San Francisco Hospital was approved for a Serving Hands grant to purchase 4 wheelchairs for individuals with disabilities. One of the recipients was Ramiro Ornelas. Mr.Ornelas has suffered from illness since childhood when he developed Polio. In order to achieve mobility, Mr.Ornelas had constructed his own wheelchair that was built from a discarded shopping cart. On May 23, 2012 Sister Leonarda, a hospital worker, gave Ramiro exciting news! He would soon be given a vital piece of equipment that would aid his everyday life. “When Mr. Ornelas saw his wheelchair, you noticed an overwhelming joy on his face,” said Sister Leonarda. He’d been thinking about this day for a long time, but never thought his dream of owning a real wheelchair would come true. San Francisco Hospital has already served 1,422 people in their community this year, thanks to the support of Servings Hands International and A-1 Self Storage.

She was called home by our Father on May 15, 2012 at the tender age of 82. Her work will continue through Friends of the Poor and Ms. Claudia Garcia. Claudia and Carmina worked together for over 15 years. Carmina has left us with an example of service to the poor and will be dearly missed. Thank you Carmina for your service to the “poorest of the poor”, Our Board and Staff at Serving Hands International thank you for the honor to have served and partnered with you.

Serving Hands International is proud to support Instituto Madre Assunta. “IMA”, an organization located in Tijuana Baja California dedicated to serving migrant women and children. From January through May 2012 IMA assisted more than 500 women and children. These women and children are often displaced and relocating due to deportation from the United States. They are often in limbo with no place to go. IMA welcomes the women with open arms, providing them with emotional support, temporary shelter, clothing, medical and legal assistance. “One of our clients called the other day to thank us”, said Mary Galvan from IMA. “Our client said she could have not imagined that there would have been an organization to support her through her ordeal. She was disoriented and had nowhere to go. Our client thanked us for opening up our doors and embracing her with kindness and understanding. We are all called to serve and it is an honor for SHI to partner with IMA. Serving Hands has partnered with Instituto Madre Assunta since 1980!

Serving Hands International partners with Missionaries of Charity in the United States and in Mexico. On March 26, 2012 Missionaries of Charity, Boston Avenue were approved for a grant to acquire much needed religious items that would go to remote Missionaries of Charity outposts in Mexico, Cuba and India. The items that they were granted came from San Diego’s own, O’Connors (http://www.oconnorscatholicsupply.com/). Among them were crosses, statues, and other icons or images that have not been accessible in these remote locations. They will be utilized in chapels and parish structures for the benefit of the people Missionaries of Charity serve. The very day that Sister Fatima and Sister Maria, Sisters of the order of Missionaries of Charity, were told of the Serving Hands International grant approval they hurried to O’Connor’s and shopped to their hearts content. Serving Hand International’s Field officer Joaquin Hernandez and Mexico Operations Manager Ramiro Hernandez were witnesses to the Sisters delight and reported, “They [Sisters Fatima and Maria] were positively giddy; like children in a candy store. It blessed us to see how such a small grant could bring so much happiness”. On April 4, 2012 O Conner’s delivered the final item ordered for the Missionaries of Charity. Sister Fatima shared, “It is not much to you and I, but to the one who has not seen such beauty it is wonderful. I have so much joy thinking of those whom I can deliver these rare gifts to. I know, they will be blessed.” If you would like to learn more about Missionaries of Charity go to http://www.cmswr.org/.

One recipient of Serving Hands International’s portable program, Orchestra of Baja California, proudly photographed their portable in action on March 29, 2012. Orchestra of Baja California is a non-profit that serves youth from low income families in Tijuana, Mexico. Their program educates students on the construction of instruments as well music lessons. “Before SHI’s portabe building, we had little space for our instrument construction, and it was difficult,” said Lupe a student of OBC to Serving Hands International’s Field Officer, Joaquin Hernandez. “But now, we have space to make beautiful instruments to play!” We at Serving Hands International are pleased to see yet another donated portable being well used.

Serving Hands International is pleased to announce its partnership with Sister Ana Rodriguez of the Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament in a new region of the world! Sister Ana was sent to Intramuros Manila, Philippines during the advent season by her Mother Superior. Her previous post, an outlying community of Tijuana, Mexico was a successful venture to provide a community with a place of refuge, support, spiritual guidance and education. Sister Ana’s resilience was blessed and the ministry thrived under her care for more than 10 years.

Sister Ana lives out Serving Hands International mission “To aid the poorest people in the world and strive to restore in them self-sufficiency, dignity and hope by providing food, clothing, shelter, medical assistance, educational opportunities and spiritual guidance.” By providing support of her efforts, Serving Hands is given the opportunity to impact the people of Manila, Philippines.

On Thursday, March 22, 2012 Serving Hands International awarded Sister Ana with support to begin lifesaving interventions in the destitute villages of Intramuros Manila, Philippines. As time progresses Serving Hands International looks forward to sharing with our readers our latest frontier.

Carita de Dios, a Center for children with special needs, received its first Serving Hands International portable building on February 1, 2012. Director Adalid Murgia Ortiz shared her passion for children with special needs with Serving Hands International’s Field Officer, Joaquin Hernandez. As a parent of a special needs child, she became painfully aware of the lack of help in her community for kids and families with special needs. In 2002 she began volunteering and working with other children with disabilities. After 5 years she was convinced this demographic was underserved in Tijuana. She was certain that the gift of her son, Genero had provided her the experience and skills to serve the special needs children in her community. Adalid founded Carita de Dios, A.C. in 2007 as a first step in reaching the special needs community. To date she and her staff serve over 50 children with disabilities that range from mild to severe. Carita de Dios offers day programs that are educational and theraputic in naturefor children with special needs. They also offer educational courses for family members who wish to know more. “My son and these children,” said Adalid, “have made me lookat the world in a different way!” As of March 12, 2012 Carita de Dios has recieved 4 Serving Hands International portable buildings.

A local San Diegan, Sue of La Mesa California works hard each year creating beautiful and warm afghans for women in need in Tijuana. She has trusted Serving Hands International for years to safely deliver her gifts into the hands of those with the most need. This winter season she has continued the ritual and donated 50 afghans. Sue’s most recent delivery is in the hands of appreciative recipients in Tijuana as of February 24, 2012. Thank you, Sue for having two willing hands to serve others with.

Without adequate housing during the annual winter weather, people succumb to sickness. Often these homes are inhabited by single mothers or elderly who have neither the means nor ability to fix their leaky roofs. In order to meet this need, Serving Hands International partners with pre-approved organizations throughout the various communities of Tijuana to distribute tarps and roofing supplies to those who are in greatest need. During the 2011 rainy season, Serving Hands International’s Emergency Shelter Program served more than 29,000 people in the poorest communities of Tijuana, Mexico.

Advent is an internationally celebrated time of the year and there is no exception here at Serving Hands International. Serving Hands International commemorates this season by orchestrating the largest annual program we call “Christmas Tradition”. In 2011, Serving Hands international was able to partner with 31 pre-approved partners and provide 8,595 blankets, 14,566 bags of food, and 3,228 sweaters to more than 14,000 people in the poorest regions of Tijuana, Mexico.