Jaimie Brusstar - El Comedor faithful
January 21, 2014     by Gail Balden

“An angel came into my life that day at Christmas time and he’s been on my mind ever since.”
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“I’ve always been involved in social and immigrant issues,” Jaime … says, “as far back as Farm Labor Camps in California where I once met Caesar Chavez.”
 
Charles Burkholder introduced him to the Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans seven years ago, and though he’s volunteered in all aspects of the program, it’s his work at the El Comedor, aid station for deported migrants on the Mexico/US border that gives him the most satisfaction.  Jaime says he likes the personal connections, not only with the migrants but with the nuns and priests and those helping to make lives better. “The migrants need a way to feel good about themselves, and I like being part of an organization that tries to do that.”
 
In his work at the Comedor, Jaime has many stories, but none has touched him more than an eight-month old baby called Angel. On one of his December visits, he noticed a mother standing in the cold holding a small baby while waiting for a hot meal. Her husband and toddler son were at the end of the line.
 
“When I saw that baby wrapped in a thin blanket, I snatched the child up and took him and his mother inside to get warm.”  Though other volunteers asked to hold the baby, Jaime wouldn’t give him up and held, fed and played with him for two hours while his parents got a hot meal and clean clothing. Turns out the family had lived in Acapulco and their house had been washed away in a flood. They wanted to return home, and were able to do so with money provided by the Samaritans.
 
“An angel came into my life that day at Christmas time and he’s been on my mind ever since. I wonder what will happen to this baby, this young man. Will he grow up and what will become of him? I wonder if there is any way I can ever find out.”
 
“To help another person like this gives me gratification. I try to remain hopeful about immigration reform, but in the meantime, I do what I can where I can.”