Author: Border Partners

Man now walks with Border Partners’ help

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promotora delivers walker

Promotora Gricelda Loya (L) and senior citizen/Palomas resident José (R) both beam joyful smiles as he receives the walker Border Partners arranged for him and delivered to his home.

Some years ago, Palomas resident José was run over in an accident. He suffered several fractures: his hip, knees, and leg. As a result, he suffered significant pain. After mending, he had tremendous difficulty with his mobility.

Border Partners’ health promoters (promotoras) met José at one of their monthly gatherings for Palomas senior citizens. They recognized his challenges with physical mobility. They saw that the accident had also limited his independence. Worse, the wheels of his walker didn’t turn freely, they jammed up–like those on a balky shopping cart.

One promotora, Griselda Loya, kept in close touch with José. While texting with him, she learned that his rickety walker malfunctioned so badly that it made him fall. He couldn’t trust it to support him. Now, he told her, he was afraid to move independently at all.

Walkers aren’t readily available in Palomas. So, Griselda reached out to Border Partners co-founder, Helena Myers. Helena assured Griselda that she’d do her best to find a walker.

And, she did. After a successful hunt, Helena immediately brought that used walker to the port of entry where Griselda and her fellow BP staffer Juan met her. In a delightful “Border Partners” twist, they paused only long enough to ask a Mexican official to snap a photo of their new prize. Then they brought it to Jose.

“Now, I’ll fly!”

When Jose saw the walker, his face beamed!

“Now I’m going to fly around Palomas!” he exclaimed, giggling with glee.

Secure with a walker that worked, José would be able to walk again. He can participate in church, go to the store. And, best of all, he can move safely inside his house.

For Gricelda, helping folks in her community is a beautiful experience.

“It brings satisfaction that no words can express. Seeing José’s happy face and feeling his happiness is the most beautiful thing a person can experience,” she unequivocally stated.

For Gricelda, belonging to the Border Partners family, brings her many experiences that touch her heart. Yes, some are sad. But, in this case, sharing José’s joy at seeing his new walker and knowing that she was instrumental to help make that possible–well, it was a beautiful event.

Health Promoters Alleviate Hunger in Palomas

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Border Partners promotoras cook and deliver fresh, healthy meals to Palomas seniors each weekday to 25 elders like this woman who gratefully receives her daily meal.

Border Partners’ health promoters (promotoras) are taking a central role in the community response to COVID-19. Their recognized expertise and the relationships they’ve formed through the years position them to lead and help. Our last post explained how the promotoras have assumed new, extraordinary roles. They work in association with other key players, including the Palomas Health Center, to protect the health of Palomas residents.

In addition, promotoras continue their regular duties. They maintain regular hours at their permanent office in town. People can call or stop in to monitor blood pressure and blood sugar levels. This addresses underlying issues of heart disease and diabetes that can turn COVID-19 deadly. 

Another critical health issue promotoras encounter is that of hunger and food insecurity. The economic downturn affects elderly, children and poor households in Palomas, a community where reliable, permanent employment is difficult to find. The promotoras have responded.

Food Distribution Effort

Promotoras are confidentially providing basic food assistance to the most food insecure households in Palomas. These boxes of food purchased at Del Sol grocery are ready for delivery.

Twice a month, promotoras deliver a food supplement to the most vulnerable households in Palomas. First, they collaborated to identify households apparently in need. Then, they followed up with a discreet inquiry to each household to determine their level of need. Twenty designated as the most food-insecure now receive a bi-monthly food supplement box. 

Promotora Gricelda Loya contacted Palomas grocery store El Sol for help. They agreed to provide food at wholesale prices for this project. We’re pleased to patronize this generous local business. Moreover, buying locally relieves Border Partners of the expense of traveling to Juarez. And, because travel during COVID-19 is dangerous, it also keeps our staff safer. El Sol is perfectly positioned for this project, and we’re so grateful to partner with them.

Meals to Elders Continue

In addition, isolated, elderly Palomas residents lack support services to help them survive. So, each weekday promotoras deliver them a homemade meal. In the Food On Meals project that is sponsored by the Paso Del Norte Health Foundation’s HEAL grant, we’ve now increased the number of older adults we serve. Promotoras cook and deliver 25 meals during the COVID-19 contingency.  

Unbounded Gratitude

Border Partners’ health promoters, in partnership with Palomas’ El Sol grocery store, deliver bimonthly food supplement boxes to local households in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The people who receive food assistance are profoundly grateful. 

They tell the promotoras:

  • “Thank you very much for helping the community.”
  • “It is so good that there is an agency that supports the community.”
  • “I am so grateful that you have considered my family for support.”
  • “Thank you so much for caring for vulnerable families!” 

The promotoras are able to do this work because the generosity of Border Partners donors supplements funding from Paso Del Norte. Donor donations purchase food and pay transportation expenses.

The food distribution will continue until July 3 or for as long as we have the funding to support it. Border Partners is operating under an emergency three month contingency plan due to COVID-19. Thanks for helping the promotoras prevent hunger and promote health through your support and donations!

Promotoras fight COVID-19 at border, in Palomas and beyond

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covid19

Promotoras in personal protective equipment monitor temperatures at the port of entry.

promotoras fight covid19

Palomas Promotora Facebook post April 3, 2020

The Health Promoters (promotoras) in Palomas are now at the center of the local response to the COVID-19 virus. They work with the Palomas Health Center and government officials to soften the potential impact of the virus. The goal is to mitigate its spread. 

The health promoters (promotoras‘) training and experience prompted the project supervisor of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation to recommend their service in the fight of COVID-19. Thus, the Palomas Health Center engaged promotoras’ help and support during the COVID-19 contingency.

Promotoras work three hour shifts on days they can assist this effort. As part of their normal activity, they monitor temperatures of older adults in the Border Partners’ senior citizen program and of those who visit the office. 

Extraordinary Duties

But, in addition to their normal duties, the promotoras are screening people as they enter Mexico. Working with the Palomas police, the promotoras survey all border crossers. They check for anyone with elevated temperatures. Their presence supports the government health truck stationed immediately inside the Mexican border.

Any Mexican resident who registers a fever is placed on a two week quarantine. Border crossers from the United States who register a fever are turned back. Promotoras advise border crossers who present with any virus symptoms during the last seven days to self-quarantine at home for 14 days. They advise anyone who develops active symptoms to call 911 in their home community and follow local instructions.

Health Education 

The promoters provide prevention information for COVID-19 on their Facebook page. They meet with concerned people in their office, at the local health clinic. They respond to phone calls of residents who request information as well. The importance of social distancing and washing hands is their key focus. 

Nutrition Supplementation

Another component of the promotoras work is the delivery of food boxes. Twenty particularly needy families were identified as extremely food insecure. The promotoras deliver supplemental food allocations. In addition, they continue to deliver meals and monitor the health of many Palomas senior citizens.  We’ll will write more about these activities in our next website post, coming soon.

Important Message from Border Partners’ President

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Paul Dulin

Paul Dulin, President
Border Partners Board of Directors

A note to all you great supporters:

These times are challenging for all of you. Now the COVID-19 Pandemic surges into the New Mexico-Chihuahua border region. As a binational assistance program, Border Partners faces a real challenge.

So, we’ve retargeted to fight the pandemic.
Our Aim: To soften COVID-19’s impact on the people of Palomas and its surrounding communities.

Our Palomas personnel designed a three-month emergency plan in response to the inevitable spread of Coronavirus. We no longer organize activities in Palomas that require people to gather in groups. We sadly discontinued Zumba and nutrition classes, bicycle rallies, and construction projects that require more than a single worker.
Our personnel in Palomas now concentrate their efforts to help:

  • people have enough food (especially vulnerable seniors).
  • residents cope with the pandemic
    -by distributing up-to-date information on how to avoid getting the virus.
    -by working with the Palomas Health Center to detect and treat infected people (especially those with pre-existing conditions).
  • our home gardens continue to provide nutrition.

We hope all of you and all our donors understand: we must react to the reality of the Pandemic. We want to ensure the health of our personnel and the people in Palomas. As we partner with local organizations, we’ll continue to provide for the less fortunate.

We especially want to thank all of you who support our work in Palomas and surrounding border communities!

Please continue to support our projects and keep yourselves safe, sane, and healthy in this difficult time!

Paul Dulin, President
Border Partners

2019 Review and What’s Next!

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Dear Friends,

Border Partners had a productive 2019! Our new General Manager, Samantha Apodaca, completed her first year in the position and has expanded our programming with new funding opportunities. We are excited to share what we accomplished last year and what we have in store for the new year! 

What we accomplished in 2019!

  • Border Partners raised $10,196 at the 2019 Give Grandly Event! Thank you to all who donated on the Giving Day!
  • We were awarded our fifth year of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle) Grant!
  • We were also awarded Paso del Norte’s IGNITE Grant! The funding will support a 6 week Youth Art Summer Program this summer. Taught by a local Palomas artist, children of all ages will produce multiple murals/ art installations in the community.
  • We have expanded our school nutrition lunch program to TWO schools! Now, over 200 students are fed healthy foods every day.
  • We started a NEW program, serving 15 Palomas seniors and disabled residents a daily, nutritious lunch. 
  • We hosted two Health Fairs! The first was paired with a Sports fair, where children and adults participated in soccer, basketball, and volleyball tournaments. The fairs also had free healthy burritos, health screenings, hair cuts, Zumba exercise classes, art projects, and youth activities.
  • The Border Partners Annual Summer School was a success! Over 80 Palomas youth attended Art, Physical Activity, Reading, Health, Gardening, Crafts, and English classes in our Education Center.
  • In order to expand health programming, our Promotoras are now traveling to the surrounding towns and villages to train locals in health and gardening.  
  • The Promotoras are continuing their health outreach in schools by teaching workshops about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Twice a month, our Promotoras host local seniors at the community comedor to share healthy meals and fun activities.
  • Our hardworking staff has built 10 more greenhouses for Palomas families and schools!

Help Border Partners continue

We are upon our 12th year of helping those in need. Your support is invaluable to our organization and the people of Palomas. Please help to continue Border Partners’ efforts by spreading the word about our mission and/or sending a donation of any amount. Your gift will have a direct and meaningful impact on many people’s lives.

NOTE: our mailing address has changed to PO Box 1435 Deming, NM 88031 or donate online.

 

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Palomas Teens Embark on School Mural Project

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mural

Palomas High School students (L) receive directions and materials from the Border Partners team leaders (R) as they begin the new mural project.

mural team

Mural project leaders confer to begin working with Palomas teen artists.

The Palomas High School Mural Project is a go! With help from local artist Dagoberto

Dagoberto

Local muralist Dagoberto Rodriguez Carrasco helps the students envision their mural possibilities

Rodriguez Carrasco and our very own Promotora, Gricelda Loya, these students are going to paint a series of murals in their school. Each muralist-to-be received their first sketchbook and are currently taking drawing classes to gear up for their first mural.

For updates on this project visit our website or check our Facebook , Instagram, and follow #BorderPartners.

We’re proud participants of Give Grandly!, the community’s annual giving event! Learn about the exciting events taking place on May 11 at givegrandly.org. Visit our donation page at https://givegrandly.civicore.com/borderpartners beginning May 4 to schedule a donation to appear on May 11! A generous supporter has promised to double all the funds that we receive on May 4. Your contribution will mean so much to us. Thanks for your help.

Promotoras Gift Garden Veggies to Older Residents of Palomas

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duo

Promotora Gloria Aguilar (L) and Viky Ibarra (R) delighted Palomas elders with garden grown vegetables and a home visit.

Promotoras Gloria Aguilar and Viky Ibarra cut, washed, and hand delivered fresh BP garden-grown vegetables to seniors in the Palomas community.

delivery“Ellos al vernos que llegamos a visitarlos estuvieron felices. Muy contentas nos recibieron e incluso nos dicen que volvamos a cortar vegetales y llevarles. Ellas estan muy agradecidas por la visita de nosotras.// When they saw us arrive to visit them, they were happy. They were very happy–and they even told us to cut more vegetables and come back again. They are very grateful for our visit,” said Viky.

To help support projects such as this tell your friends and family about this year’s Give Grandly event at the Silver City Farmer’s Market on May 11!  Visit givegrandly.org or more information and https://givegrandly.civicore.com/borderpartners to donate, beginning May 4. One generous Border Partners supporter has promised to double every contribution we receive that day! Find out more HERE on our website. Your donation on May 11 will mean so much to us. Thanks for your ongoing support!

For updates on this project and others, continue to visit our website or check our Facebook page, Instagram, and follow #BorderPartners.

Old Tires Get New Life in Kids’ Play Structure

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playground

Peter Edmunds smiles: the colorful project turned out very well.

Border Partners Founder, Peter Edmunds, hatched the idea to create long lasting, sturdy, play structures from recycled tires. With help from the creative and hardworking Marisol, they painted the tires and secured them, producing the colorful structures. This play equipment has been installed in a small fenced-in playground adjacent to the Border Partners Sports Center. Peter hopes to build more of these playgrounds around Palomas before his summer return to Minnesota.

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE NEW TODDLER PLAYGROUND ON OUR PREVIOUS WEBSITE POST.

For updates on this project check back here on our website or check our Facebook, Instagram, and follow #BorderPartners.

SAVE THE DATE: Give Grandly is Saturday May 11! We’re excited to be part of this day of giving and hope you’ll join us at the Silver City Farmers’ Market or online at https://givegrandly.civicore.com/borderpartners

“Throw away tires becoming a beautiful spaceship for a Palomas kids’ playground!” -Peter Edmunds

tires for transport

Peter Edmunds loads colorful tires on to the truck for transport to Palomas where they’ll become components for a children’s playground structure.

tires painted

Marisol (R) and her brother George review the brightly painted tires ready to become a children’s play structure.

Border Partners’ 12th Semi-Annual Health Fair – 12a Feria de salud semestral de Border Partners

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healthy exercise

The 12th annual Health Fair is a celebration of good health in Palomas.

Free haircuts

Join us Friday April 26th, from 10am to 4pm, at the main plaza in Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua, Mexico!
There will be FREE diabetes, hypertension and HIV detection, children and adult vaccinations, anti-rabies vaccinations, oral health screenings, renewal of insurance, healthy burritos, cardiovascular exercises (ZUMBA), activities for children, family planning counseling, advice on nutrition (NUTRIOLOGO), addiction counseling (CAPA – Addiction Care Center), eyesight testing, gardening tips, and haircuts! ALL FOR FREE!

Download flier in English HERE

displays and consultations

Displays and consultations

¡Únase a nosotros el viernes 26 de abril, de 10am a 4pm, en la plaza principal de Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua, México!
Habra GRATIS detecciones de diabetes, hipertensión y VIH, para niños y adulto vacunación y antirrábica, detecciones de salud bucal, Afiliación Y renovación del SEGURO POPULAR, Demostración del burrito saludable, Ejercicios cardiovascular (ZUMBA), Actividades para niños (JUEGOS), Asesoría de planificación familiar, Asesoría en nutrición (NUTRIOLOGO, Asesoría en adicciones, (CAPA – Centro de Atención para Adicciones), Detecciones de la vista, Jardinería, Concurso para niños de talento, y Corte de cabello, TODO GRATIS!

Descarga el folleto aquí

Health fair flier 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

espanol health fair 2019