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Along the border between the United States and Mexico, a number of twin cities straddle the border, of which Gillenwater states, "Here the Third World meets the First World in a clashing display of economic inequality." Indeed, the crisis at our southern border affects both the citizens of Mexico and the United States. Sources of help are scarce, immigration rules constantly change with no sustainable policy in sight, and the costs to human lives are enormous. In this untenable situation, there is, however, hope. Gillenwater outlines the work that began on a 1987 trip to deliver food to the needy in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Just after returning home to Scottsdale, the author established Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation, Inc., a volunteer-based organization that provides emergency services, housing, and assistance to migrants. Since its inception, Rancho Feliz has helped tens of thousands on both sides of the border.
This inspirational book offers a sustainable way to help the most vulnerable migrants. The group is not affiliated with any particular religion or philosophy, though the author's study of Eastern philosophy informs his humanitarian efforts. The idea is simple: make charity a reciprocal agreement between those who need and those who provide. Efforts such as picking up trash along the road to trade for a bag of food give recipients a sense of self-worth. The volunteers provide affordable housing with a plan for ownership, scholarships for educational studies, and emergency supplies. Readers who are inclined are welcome to volunteer, and information on how to do so is helpfully provided. This highly readable work of love educates readers and challenges them to question their conceptions about what is possible along the border. Gillenwater has crafted an engaging must-read for anyone concerned about the humanitarian nightmare along this volatile boundary.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review