The Inn of Arizona

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (Matthew 25:35-36)

Unlike the large rolling bags of clothing and toiletries that most of us pack for a trip to another country, migrants often enter the U.S. with only the clothes they are wearing and a backpack containing a few essential items. Volunteer aid organizations, including many sponsored by churches, are their main hope for assistance.

Under the sponsorship of the Desert Southwest Conference of the UMC, The Inn of Southern Arizona has opened in Tucson as a caring ministry to aid asylum seekers from many different countries who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and been legally processed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. In July alone, 341 migrants were hosted there for one or two nights. They were provided with meals, showers, and a place to sleep. Volunteers at The Inn convey a sense of security, acceptance, and graciousness. They help these children, families, and adult individuals reach their sponsors around the U.S. to await their asylum hearings.

In addition to needing onsite volunteers, The Inn is in great need of ongoing financial support. A donation of just $50 provides a whole family with a clean, comfortable room and meals for one night. Donations can be made online through the DMUMC website and designated for the “DSC Inn Project” or by a check made out to the church that notes “DSC Inn Project” on the memo line.

For more information about The Inn and the support it provides to legally processed migrants, please visit its website at www.theinnofsa.org.