The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) directs all donations for migrant teens to Buckner International and Trusted World, while volunteer support is coordinated by Catholic Charities of Dallas (CCD).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement is using North Texas nonprofits to manage donations and volunteer support for the migrant children sheltering at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. ORR is directing all in-kind donations from organizations and individuals to local nonprofits Buckner International and Trusted World, while Catholic Charities of Dallas continues to organize Spanish-speaking volunteers to help.

Ways to support

According to ORR, many of the immediate needs of the nearly 2,300 migrant children (primarily teenagers) sheltering at the convention center have been met. An updated list of specific donation needs will be available here: Buckner.org/MigrantDonations.

Local volunteer support has also been strong, prompting CCD to create a volunteer waiting list. All interested Spanish-speaking volunteers can find instructions on how to sign up at CCDallas.org.

ORR originally collaborated with CCD to oversee volunteer support at the convention center. CCD brought in Buckner and Trusted World to manage donations based on the two nonprofits’ expertise in humanitarian aid and resources.

“We appreciate the help of volunteers that have already come through the center and those that continue to serve," said Dave Woodyard, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Dallas. “As of right now, new volunteers for the Emergency Intake Site are on a wait list and people are being cleared through the process as quickly as possible. We will continue to need help in the days and weeks to come.”

Donations made to Buckner and Trusted World will be held for distribution as needed. If the donations are not needed for the migrant children, ORR has approved the use to help vulnerable children and families in North Texas – including financial donations to Buckner, Trusted World and CCD.

Generous donations are providing hope

“Texans have shown so much generosity toward the migrant children relocated to Dallas from the border,” said Albert Reyes, president and CEO of Buckner International. “We will do our best to honor the original intent of donors, but in the event no additional supplies are needed by ORR, I can promise the donations will make an impact on local children and families who are also in great need.”

How to donate items

Officials say items accepted should be new and in the original box or container in which they were purchased. Items should be for males and females ages 13-17. 

Suggested donations include shoes, socks, underwear, pants, shirts, jackets, antibacterial wipes, and hygiene items (toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes, washcloths and deodorant).

Those who wish to give other items are encouraged to research local organizations that are providing care and assistance to those in border communities.

Donations may be delivered to the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please contact the team at BCHAAidTeam@buckner.org. *Please note the Center for Humanitarian Aid will not be open to accept donations on Friday, April 2 in honor of Good Friday.

Items may also be donated to Trusted World, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with location information available here.

Donations will not be accepted at the convention center, according to ORR.

On Thursday, March 25, Buckner delivered a load of supplies to the convention center at the request of ORR and Catholic Charities. The supplies included 1,260 Spanish Bibles, 200 sets of washable markers, five dry erase boards, 100 sets of dry erase markers, 108 sets of playing cards, and 1,150 sets of rosary beads.

To stay up to date with the current list of needed donations, click here.