The Drug Cartels - How to be Helpful
We never share, sell, or rent donor or volunteer information.
We try to purchase items in Mexico instead of accepting donated items.
We try to help the people without harming the local businesses that employ the people. Consider this example. Juanita buys used clothes, repairs them, and then stands in front of a school selling the clothes to parents picking up their children. We arrive at the school with donated clothing and give it away. What happens to Juanita?
Many poor Mexican families supplement their income with yard sales or at flea-markets. We harm the people struggling to survive at the bottom by bringing in donated goods. We prefer to buy from these people and then distribute clothing to families that absolutely are in need.
We also purchase new items and try to do this at businesses employing the people of the colonias. Our long-term goals should not suffer to provide us with some short-term immediate satisfaction.
The Drug Cartels - How to be Helpful
Gossip and general warnings only help the drug-cartels to spread fear. This is exactly what they want. However, you can do a lot to help the people in Acuna. Because if the violent drug war that has finally reached Acuna, many churches and charities no longer bring help to the poor. The churches and charities in Acuna, along with Paper Houses Across the Border, are still helping the poor. If you ever participated in a misison trip with a church or group claiming to have 'strong local ties' to Acuna, ask for the name and address of that 'local tie' and send support directly to the Acuna churchor chairty.
A sad truth is that many charities and churches that previously went to Acuna and delivered help, simply stopped helping. Some, simply shifted their mission locations to other places where they have 'strong relationships' and abandoned the 'strong relationships' with the poor in Acuna.
Instead of spreading rumors and gossip that only heighen fear and help the drug cartels, suppor a local Acuna church or chairity that can reach out and help the working poor.
Multi-Family Yard Sale click to email for more information
Organizing a multi-family yard sale to benefit Paper Houses is a huge help. You can download our brochures and photos and create a few display boards about the colonias and Paper Houses. We can establish an account to help a specific family, school, medical need or project. Two things happen as a result of this type of effort. First, the other families are likely to visit our web site and perhaps become regular supporters. Second, the people checking out the merchandise may take a brochure and visit us on the web. Perhaps a few of the people may talk about us at church, work or school. There is no telling where your yard sale could ultimately lead. Finally, there is the money that is generated by the yard-sale for the people of the colonias.Many churches allow us to have a multi-yard sale on their parking lot! Even $15 goes a long way. Did you know that $15 provides 107 meals at our school cafeterias?
Translate Our Web site click to email for more information
We email pages in MS WORD. You translate the pages into Spanish and email them to us. We build a Spanish version of our site. This makes our site readable for the business community of Acuña and all of Mexico.
Translate Documents and Brochures to Spanish click to email for more information
We need someone to translate our informational documents to Spanish. As we walk the streets and visit families we could distribute brochures and documents that explain what we do, explain when and where we are hosting a free medical clinic, of provide directions for setting up an appointment at the private hospital.
Photo Indexing click to email for more information
We shoot about 150 photographs each month that require photo editing, renaming, tagging and filing. We would send the photos via email and this volunteer would return the edited and renamed photos.
Donations & New Supporters
We are always in need of donations and new supporters. We've learned that many people provide support one time or for a few months and move on to help another charity. This is a common experience among charities. For that reason, we always need new supporters so we can continue to provide assistance to shelters, meals for children, medical assistance and food to the working poor. Your effort to get friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family to visit our web site, participate in a mission trip and send support is critical to our success.
FAQ About Helping
Can I deduct donations on my tax return?
I want to help in a cafeteria or a shelter for children.
Can I send clothing or other items to help?
Checks and money orders are mailed to our bank-box where the bank automatically deposits them. The bank then sends us a photo copy of the check and we main a tax receipt. Please send donations to:
Paper Houses Across the Border
MSC 980
San Antonio, TX 78299-2954
Donations can also be made on-line with our Donate Now button.
We are not set up to handle donated items, except for pre-agreed medical supplies.
This is not possible through Paper Houses.. The regular Mexican volunteers have plenty of help.
We are an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Please consult with your tax consultant.