I had gone on my first trip to the border with this amazing group. To join hands with a group of compassionate and determined group (many who were meeting for the first time) and bond over the desperation of others was an heartbreaking and heartwarming experience at the same time. To see how they have expanded and spread the message is something inspiring. Every child helped is an enrichment of America.
Grannies Respond, under the excellent leadership of Executive Director Catherine Cole, continues to provide compassionate support to asylum seekers at the Border and those who have made their way North, be it voluntarily or on an Abbott bus. The Grannies’ national recognition and network of satellite groups around the country make it possible to reach and provide humanitarian assistance to so many. It is easy to help, whether you volunteer directly or send financial support, you can make a difference in the lives of those seeking a better life for themselves and their families. It has been an honor to serve on the Board and manage the website.
I was inspired by Grannies Respond/Abuelos Responden on their first trip to the border with the caring and compassion of the grannies and grampies. As a Board member, I hear reports of how our teams meet the buses and provide diapers, snacks, and information to traveling asylum seekers. Donations go to direct services, with very little being spent on admin -- we have no staff, just the accounting required by the state. Our volunteers spend hours staffing the "Little Shop of Kindness" that provides clothes and other items, and offering a kind and helpful presence as newcomers navigate this new land -- just as I hope others did for my ancestors when they came to the United States fleeing oppression and poverty.
I travelled to the border a few years ago, to see what I might could do. I met the lovely people from this group. I have followed their work since then. Compassionate, dedicated and hands on! Just real folks getting the job done. The job? Love your neighbor.
Grannies Respond is amazing, the epitome of grassroots, roll up your sleeves and get it done! The little nonprofit that could, born from the tragedy of family separation in 2018, still going strong nationwide and growing, helping asylum seekers in the USA to get settled with warmth and welcome.
I traveled with the first Grannies Respond to McAllen, Texas in my own response to the inhumane treatment of children and the separation of families. I flew from California and joined the caravan in San Antonio, Texas where I was met by other volunteers who drove us to the border. I considered the establishment of the organization to be brilliant and I continue to think so. Based on my experience I have been able to enlighten others about the situation at the border with an emphasis on humane treatment, and I will travel again with them this October. I think this is an excellent way for grandparents to highlight a family and child issue, as well as to support folks as they fan out from the border with limited resources. I highly recommend the organization for donations and for volunteering to help at the border or in the many localities where folks continue their difficult journey.
I became aware of Grannies Respond when they first formed during the past administration's "family separation " policies. Digitally, I have followed their actions and passion for the past few years. They are always quick to respond personally to my email questions. I have yet to travel with them, but it will happen because I believe in what they do. It's our humanitarian duty to witness and report the degrading treatment of asylum seekers and migrants. Pamela
I became aware of Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responden when they first formed and caravanned to the Texas border to learn more about the abhorrent treatment of asylum seekers and migrants under the Trump Administration's "family separation " policies. At the time, I was involved with a group called The Resistance Choir, and so we took our first road trip to meet them as the crossed the Texas border into Houston and accompany them on their educational trip. Since that wonderful experience, I have been honored to become close friends with many of the Grannies... both those in the original group and members I have met through their much needed expansion... and they are just stellar human beings! They can always be counted on to do whatever they possibly can to help those in need. Big hearts, strong backs, nerves of steel and iron wills... you couldn't ask for more!
I am a volunteer and helped start the Pittsburgh chapter of Abuelas Responden. I helped many asylum seekers from the border stopping at the Pittsburgh Greyhound bus station usually to change buses to go to New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia and other places. They had nothing except a plastic bag with miscellaneous things. I gave them blankets, food, water, diapers, toiletries, and a friendly caring presence. I also helped them find their next bus and anwered their questions as best I could. About 2 dozen caring volunteers compose the Pittsburgh chapter. Many did the same as I did often at 12:30 am since that was the time the bus arrived with the most asylum seekers. Other volunteers organized the supplies to give out and bought items in an emergency. Lately the number of asylum seekers at this station has dwindled, but the New York chapter (Team TLC NYC) has done a remarkable job assisting the asylum seekers brought on buses from Texas. This abuelo is very glad to be amongst such loving abuelas. Allan Willinger
They are passionate, hardworking, welcoming, and FAST. It's incredibly inspiring to see how quickly they can come together to redress the large, unmet need of incoming migrants and refugees. As a public health student studying humanitarian crises, I know how important this type of grassroots, community-driven relief work is. Grannies Respond helps me be a part of that effort, and it has been heartwarming to join them in making NYC a little bit safer, more welcoming, and a kinder place for folks looking for relief and refuge.
Grannies Respond has been doing amazing work for years, and really stepped up in a huge way when New York City started receiving hundreds of asylum seekers per day from Texas. Through its affiliate, Team TLC NYC, Grannies helped greet, feed, clothe, reunite, and otherwise assist thousands upon thousands of asylum seekers, with zero funding from any governmental body. It’s been an amazing show of compassion and strength in the face of a humanitarian crisis.
The energy and commitment shown by the members of Grannies Respond highlights the compassion that should be shown to those who find themselves in an intolerable situation and come to the U.S. for the chance at a better life. From meeting buses at bus stations to the Port Authority, Grannies Respond work to prove that many Americans support the migrants and understand the problems of their families who want to escape the brutality of their home countries. Grannies Respond does commendable work by providing basic necessities to those who have lost everything. High marks to Grannies Respond.
As one of the original Grannies who traveled from Beacon to the Border in 2018, I have had the honor to continue working with this group of amazing people for over 4 years. What began as a protest to Trump’s separation of families policy, Grannies Respond has evolved with each change in order to meet the needs of our neighbors seeking asylum. The “Overground Railroad” circuit of Grannies at all over the country manning the bus stations and helping people on their way with supplies, directions, phone calls and care was a quick and huge response to their need for help during their long days of travel. When the border shut down due to MPP, many Grannies volunteered, helping the border nonprofit organizations to serve food, supply tents, fund medical help, and more to the families stuck in the Matamoros refugee camp. Then when Covid shut down almost all the travel, many Grannies chapters turned to helping the local immigrant communities. Then the Abbott buses began arriving in NYC and the Grannies’ chapter, Team TLC/NYC, pivoted overnight and provided a warm welcome, food, and clothing to thousands of arrivals. Recognizing a huge need, many volunteers pulled out their credit cards and rebooked tickets quickly for those who had sponsors and family elsewhere, not knowing if there would be reimbursement. Now, those buses have stopped and Team TLC/NYC is reorganizing to meet the needs of the thousands of migrants housed in shelters around the city. Grannies Respond is an army of volunteers, all doing what they can to help individuals and families on their very difficult journeys to a safe and self-sustaining future.
The Grannies Respond organization is chock full of people trying to spread kindness within a system that is unnecessarily cruel and inhuman. The idea that a network of ordinary people, across the country , are greeting and assisting asylum seekers at bus stations is so simple and effective.
Small acts of kindness enrich us all!
I am a retired Roman Catholic priest and when I first heard of GRANNIES efforts to assist humans fleeing from oppressive situations in Central and South America I knew I must become an "adopted" Granny. Daily for several years some friends and I met busses with immigrants passing through or staying in Louisville, KY. We offered them food, clothing, medicines, even belts as well as warm welcomes, indeed even maps of where they were and their destinations to meet family members. Meeting hundreds refugees this way through GRANNIES has been profoundly inspirational to me, motivating me to continue efforts to welcome immigrants and refugees, although the busses are no longer passing through our city. The efforts of the network of GRANNIES locally and nationally is truly groundbreaking and prophetic.
For some years I have been involved with Reunite Migrant Families in New York’s Dutchess County. As we grew, we knew we needed support. Graciously Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responded welcomed us in as one of their chapters.
Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responden understands the issues for migrants and asylum seekers at the national, big picture level. We serve migrants and asylum seekers at our local level - working that they get grounded so they can get on with their new lives. “Grounded” includes medical, housing, good, clothing, transportation, and more.
The synergy and collaboration between our two groups is solid and powerful.
Quietly, and without fanfare, Grannies Respond assist asylum-seekers as they navigate the Greyhound bus system throughout the U.S. Volunteers provide kindness and practical help such as translation, food, water, and supplies after their arduous journeys from the border. I've witnessed the amazing generosity of volunteers who meet the Abbott buses in NYC as well as the network of wonderful volunteers who collect supplies and staff the bus stations. Grannies Respond needs funding to continue their important work welcoming our newest neighbors from the border.
I was a founding board member with Grannies Respond, and joined as a follow-on to my experience working at the border helping migrants to peacefully seek asylum.
Every single person involved in this incredible organization is fueled by compassion and love for our fellow brothers and sisters who are escaping truly unspeakable situations. They give freely of their time, their money, their love. From organizing support at bus stations across the country to gathering supply packs for those in transit to sponsors who have nothing but the clothes on their backs, this group is a blessing and an inspiration. I am honored to help and to be part of this nonprofit.