Mark 12:33
Rosario S. writes: “These humble letters are to thank you from my heart as I am grateful
to you for all the help you give us. I’m 70 years old, I live alone, my only income is from selling cigars in the streets. May God bless and protect you.”
From Bertha G.: “I give thanks to all the people who make possible all the attention and donations that are great blessings. May God reward you and multiply your generous deeds, same to the sisters at Casa de los Pobres for making possible that all these things get to us.”
Million Meal Event Returning in June
More than 3,000 people of all ages packed 1 million meals during a fun weekend last summer. We delivered them to impoverished families just across the border. We have set our sights this year on packing 1.5 million meals on June 10 and 11, and raising $375,000 to pay for the ingredients. The event is at Cathedral Catholic High School, Del Mar Heights Road, Del Mar, CA.
We need your hands and hearts once more! Please register today to help pack meals and/or donate. Parishes, ministries, groups, families, and individuals are all welcome.
Casa’s Special Needs This Month
Special Requests from Sister Armida this month:
- New mens’ socks
- Bar soap
- Peanut butter, tuna fish, canned evaporated milk, oatmeal, pastas (macaroni, spaghetti), canned corn and vegetables, Spam
We have a new drop-off location for in-kind donations:
- Brigid’s Parish Office, 4735 Cass Street, San Diego, CA 92109, Monday-Friday, 8 am –4:00pm.
- If possible, please put your donations in white plastic bags marked “Casa.”
We gladly accept:
- Canned, dried, and boxed food items (unexpired)
- Beans, rice (in packages of 10 or 20 pounds)
- Blankets, sleeping bags, tarps
- Hygienic and cleaning supplies
- New sheets and towels
- New clothes, socks, shoes (sorry, we cannot accept used items)
- Medicines and vitamins (e.g., Tylenol, cough medicine, children’s cold medicine, multivitamins — unexpired)
Sorry, we cannot accept any used clothing or shoes, any electrical items or building materials, as we are not allowed to take them across the border.
The Casa de los Pobres USA continues to move forward with your help
Thank you for your continued support of the Casa de Los Pobres! We have been so
blessed for the past 40 years to have the incredible dedication of Pat Erzinger, who has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Casa. She, along with Jacklyn Horton, have recently retired, and we would like to extend our tremendous gratitude for all they have done.
We have a new Board of Directors for the non-profit group, that hopes to send the monthly newsletter via email in the future to save money. If you would like to receive the newsletter via email, please email us at CasadelosPobresUSA@gmail.com.
Your monetary donations can continue to be safely made in three ways:
- Online on the website CasadelosPobresUSA.com
- By check payable to “Casa de los Pobres USA” mailed to: Casa de los Pobres USA, PO Box 9596, San Diego, CA 92169
- Stocks can be accepted through Wells Fargo Advisors
Thank you for continuing to help the “poorest of the poor” at the Casa!
FEBRUARY 2023 REPORT
- 19,120 people received a meal
- 660 general medical clinic appointments, specialist consultations, prescriptions filled
- 1,790 bags of groceries given
- 450 people personally attended in Social Service (includes people who received blankets, hygiene supplies, shoes, and clothing)
- 4 trips were made to deliver food, blankets, clothes, and tarps to far-away neighborhoods
- 33 scholarship aids were given
Our prayers for many Lenten graces to you and your family.
my husband who injured his back from a fall 2 years ago. I suffer diabetes. I need to work, so I make flour tortillas to sell so I can earn to pay rent, water, and electricity. The groceries we get from the Casa de los Pobres is a great help, and if you could give us tennis shoes, it helps me to come to get my weekly food. Many thanks and may God bless each of you.” Maria M. 
writes . . . “I am very grateful for the great help you have given to me. I live with my son who has autism. Despite this, he tries to help me in ways he can such as watching a small place rented for parking a car. Before, my brother was watching for us and gave us some money for food, but unfortunately for our family, COVID took him away from us as he was a doctor. By a friend, I was able to learn about this place Casa de Los Pobres, and so to have some food, something I am so grateful for. I suffer high blood pressure, and it is difficult for me to get a job, but I try as I can. I felt lost as my son and me sometimes we did not have any food some days. We need to pay rent, we have been without electricity for months. It is so hard, I was disoriented, how to keep going, but you have given me hope. I feel blessed for all.” 
the food, clothing, and services provided to the poor and destitute of Tijuana, the Casa has been helping deserving students through scholarships.
a grain store, Ramiro attends high school, and Roxana is in secondary school. I do not have a stable work because I do not have much studies, I only finished elementary school. I take care of 2 children two or three days a week and I clean houses sometimes. We are so so very grateful for the groceries we receive on Thursdays and sometimes, we receive other surprises such as hygiene supplies, blankets, shoes, or house supplies. And we enjoy breakfast. Thanks to the Sisters and to all the persons who support this mission. May God shower you all with blessings. I send you a flower of love.” 
“Hello, my name is Teresa. I live with my husband and 5 grandchildren, and I take care of them. I write this letter mainly and first of all, to thank God for the existence of this community, Casa de los Pobres. It’s where people receive help, people get food, groceries, and medical care. I also thank God for everyone who works here everyday and helps to cook the food, to serve it, and help to distribute the groceries. And for every person who fills out our pass in Social Services, to all the doctors that collaborate with their services and to the Sisters who also give their time to help us.May God bless them all and give them much strength and health and well-being to everyone who also work in so many different ways in this community.” 
Cathedral Catholic High School to set up on Friday, prepare meals on Saturday, and tear down on Sunday. The Casa de Los Pobres is one of the organizations that will receive the prepared meals. Sign up to help or donate:
you all each week I receive breakfast and groceries to take home, for me so much needed. I also have received blankets and shoes and tarp to cover my place as water came in. I am fortunate that this place and people still exist and think about the poor. It was very difficult during pandemia to have a job at least for 2 or 3 days. I thank God with all my heart, may He give you many blessings.”