How to Help

The mission of Samaritans is to save lives and relieve suffering in the Arizona borderlands. The conditions at our border have changed since our founding in 2005 and yet we are still focused on this same mission. We accomplish our mission through the six main activities below. This would not be possible without a myriad of volunteer Samaritans. If you are a new volunteer Samaritan, we strongly encourage you attend the Samaritan Training on the first Sunday of each month from 1:30 - 5:00 p.m., at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd Street, Tucson, AZ. Here's a brochure telling more about us.

Volunteer

Desert Searches

Samaritan Search teams drive the backroads of our designated area. We are looking for lost, injured or abandoned migrants. We may encounter asylum seekers requesting Border Patrol pickup. Samaritans offer water, food, clothes, first aid and kindness to anyone suffering from extreme heat or cold, dehydration, exhaustion or injuries. We call 911 or Border Patrol for those needing major medical help. Teams optimally include a Spanish speaker and a person with medical training.

Samaritans interact with Border Patrol agents, hunters, birders, ranchers, humanitarian aid volunteers, biologists, migrants and militia.

Prepare by reading What to Expect on a Desert Trip.

Water Drops

Water Drop teams drive specific routes, then hike to check water caches along known migrant trails. Samaritans resupply caches with water, food packs, blankets and LifeStraws.

When clean water cannot be found, LifeStraws (personal water filters) transform dirty cattle pond water into safe drinking water.

Prepare by reading What to Expect on a Desert Trip.

Ambos (both) Nogales

Volunteers welcome and assist migrants and asylum seekers on both sides of the Mexican/American border. 1) We work with local Mexican partners to offer deported migrants what is appreciated:
food, clothes, transportation to shelters and local information. 2) We welcome asylum seekers to Nogales, AZ by working with an international humanitarian organization which facilitates the legal U.S. immigration process.

El Comedor

El Comedor/KINO Dining Hall This is part of the Catholic Kino Border Initiative (KBI) Migrant Aid Center in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Some migrants are deportees and some are asylum seekers. Many men, women and children are facing life-altering decisions and appreciate this support. Once a week we help serve meals and converse with migrants.

Share Your Border Experience

After you visit Arizona and learn more about immigration, share your knowledge and experience with others.

How To Donate

Here are the four ways for you to donate to our organization:

Online
By Mail
In Kind
Stock

Please click here for additional information.

Court Observation in Tucson

Volunteers can attend group hearings for migrants who have entered the U.S. illegally and are charged with a misdemeanor and a felony in federal criminal court. The group hearings are Monday-Friday at 9:30 a.m. Visitors can attend federal court anytime although it may be more helpful to go with an experienced Samaritan.

Samaritan Alyson Ball's booklet, "Getting (More) Involved With U.S. Immigration" will give you lots of information and some concrete ideas of what you can do. The last page, "What To Do When You Return Home" suggests talking with a small group of friends or making a more formal presentation at a church, library or school. Consider inviting organizations from your community who support immigrants.

You may use this slideshow about the work of Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans. Since the immigration situation is always changing, information will easily get outdated, so feel free to add updated facts to your presentation. Print this Samaritan brochure to hand out to your audience. Contact Marilyn to borrow a Sams-in-a-Box, which includes artifacts found on desert searches and other materials to enhance your presentation.