KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS
A screenshot shows aliens.gov, a new White House webpage that focuses on immigration enforcement but the design takes inspiration from The X-Files. The White…
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Latest News
FOCUS ON DETENTION WAREHOUSING
Photo of warehouse property at 542 SE Loop 410 ICE is spending $45 billion in taxpayer money to house humans…
PASTOR GARCIA WINS HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
(From left) Pastor Dianne Garcia accepts the 2026 Oscar Romero Award from Rothko Chapel Board Member Rev. Laura Mayo and Chief…
PRAYER VIGIL AGAINST DEPORTATION AT SAN ANTONIO ICE OFFICE
Sr. Denise LaRock, an IWC member, joined more than 100 faith leaders and clergy from around the country in a peaceful prayer vigil…
PASSOVER AND IMMIGRATION
By Joan Plotnick For Jews, the link between Passover and immigration is obvious. After thousands of years of slavery, we…
Advocacy
FOCUS ON SECTION 287(g) and SB8 WHAT IS A SECTION 287(g) AGREEMENT?
In 1996, Section 287(g) was added to the Immigration and Nationality Act. This section authorizes ICE to give state and local law…
PASTOR GARCIA WINS HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
(From left) Pastor Dianne Garcia accepts the 2026 Oscar Romero Award from Rothko Chapel Board Member Rev. Laura Mayo and Chief…
PASSOVER AND IMMIGRATION
By Joan Plotnick For Jews, the link between Passover and immigration is obvious. After thousands of years of slavery, we…
IWC VISITS EAGLE PASS
Camp Eagle in Maverick County was completed in three months by private contractor, Team Housing Solutions, with Operation Lone Star (OLS) funds…
IWC VOLUNTEER SPEAKS AT UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH HORIZON CONFERENCE
IWC volunteer Minerva Briones spoke about IWC’s mission and the work we are doing in San Antonio at the United…
Volunteer With Us
IN MEMORIUM
BARBARA EDENS (1953-2026) Barbara Carl Edens, longtime head of the IWC airport program, passed away in February. In lieu of…
VALENTINE’S CARD WRITING PARTY
About 260 Valentine’s Day cards were hand-delivered by Sr. Denise LaRock to the chaplains at Dilley and Pearsall for distribution.to those in…
RECAP – IWC HAPPENINGS IN 2025
In 2025, IWC worked with 89 volunteers who donated 2,329 hours, which is equivalent to $82,431. These figures are likely undercounted…
HOLIDAY CARD WRITING EVENT
It is hard to celebrate when you are in detention and your loved ones are in harm’s way. It is…
IWC APPRECIATES ITS VOLUNTEERS
IWC and its partner organization Nuevos Vecinos held a Volunteer Celebration on Thursday, November 20, at 6 PM at Impacto…
IWC Visitation Stories: “Why Do We Visit?”
By Pastor Diana Garcia There is a common saying in the Latin American Christian church that I have heard from…
IWC Visitation Story: Sandy and Stacey’s Story
Outside Karnes County Detention Center On Aug. 26, 2025, Sandy and Stacey visited two women detained at Karnes County Detention…
IWC BOOK ‘TRAVELING MERCIES’ GETS MORE NEWS MEDIA COVERAGE
Volunteers with the Interfaith Welcome Coalition help migrants released from immigration detention and dropped off at the Greyhound Bus station…
“TRAVELING MERCIES” FEATURED ON “THE SOUCE: LIVE”
Whew! We made it through the recording session! Front row: Michelle Rumbaut, Robin Raquet, Katie Myers, Sr. Denise La Rock. Back…
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO IWC VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
Several external factors will be impacting our volunteer programs: The new administration has largely closed off all asylum reception at…
AUTHOR READING OF ‘ TRAVELING MERCIES’ HELD AT THE TWIG BOOK SHOP
Terry Burton reads a story from Traveling Mercies at The Twig Bookshop. (Photo Credit: Robin Raquet) On Tuesday, January 28,…
“TRAVELING MERCIES” AUTHORS TO READ AT THE TWIG BOOKSHOP
Update, Due to inclement weather the event has moved to January 28, 2024. Mary Grace Ketner, IWC volunteer and editor…
Celebrating 10 Years of Compassion and Advocacy: Interfaith Welcome Coalition Releases Anniversary E-Book
For a decade, the Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) has stood as a beacon of hope and humanity in San…
Mary Grace Ketner Featured on TPR’s The Source with David Martin Davies
Have you thought about the fact that we–IWC volunteers–are among the very few who have actually met asylum seekers as…
A HUG SO STRONG
(Note: This isn’t the exact knapsack noted in the story) By Brenda Neal Each day I spent at the Greyhound…
A MUSICAL THANK YOU
IWC would be nothing without its volunteers. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who filled the sanctuary at Laurel…
PLEASE COMPLETE NEWSLETTER SURVEY
We at IWC know you get a lot of emails and that your time is precious. With that in mind,…
Traveling Mercies: Encounters With Asylum Seekers released on Amazon
Traveling Mercies: Encounters with Asylum Seekers is available on paperback and Kindle. Traveling Mercies by Interfaith Welcome Coalition(Author), Mary Grace Ketner(Editor),…
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) is seeking new board members for 2025-2027
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) is seeking new board members for the 2025-2027 term to carry out our mission to…
10 Year Anniversary Concert Honoring IWC
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) is Celebrating 10 Years of service to our community. As part of the 10th Anniversary,…
10TH ANNIVERSARY – BE INSPIRED BY IMMIGRANT AND VOLUNTEER STORIES (Coming Soon)
As part of the IWC 10th Anniversary Celebration, IWC will be publishing a book of 70+ stories tentatively titled, Traveling…
IWC 10TH ANNIVERSARY SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION!
Enjoy a free concert honoring 10 years of IWC and those who have labored for its mission, featuring the South…
A MOTHER’S LOVE
By Chili Ornelas I met Elena and her children at the bus station one day as they were getting ready…
IWC SEEKS SUMMER VOLUNTEERS
IWC always needs and appreciates its volunteers. But over the summer we especially need help as numerous volunteers take much-needed…
IWC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR HONORED FOR UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY FILM
Black Public Media presented Laura Varela (Producer), IWC communications director, and her colleague Andrew J. Gonzales (Producer/Director) with the Jacquie Jones Memorial…
IWC VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR SPEAKS AT TEMPLE BETH EL
Alejandra Rodriguez, IWC volunteer coordinator (right) and Manijeh Huereca, associate director of specialized programs at Catholic Charities Alejandra Rodriguez, the…
A FLIX FIX
By Minerva Briones One morning, I found a 40-year-old mother from Honduras outside the bus station. She was talking with her…
IWC THANKS LA TRINIDAD UMC FOR PUENTE PALS
Photo Caption: Minerva Briones, IWC Welcoming Associate, pictured with Puente Pals. On Sunday, March 17, IWC Board President Katie…
EMOTIONAL DAY AT THE BUS STATION
Photo Credit: Jo Naylor, Flickr By Heather Nickodem It was an emotional day. We helped a gentleman whose wife had…
URGENT VOLUNTEER NEED – AIRPORT OUTREACH
All shifts are available, and we welcome group volunteers like civic and faith-based groups. Our volunteers greet families as they…
PROVIDENTIAL
By Minerva Briones On a Monday afternoon, Rebecca Flores came to the bus station to drop off some clothing. As…
COLD FRONT BRINGS SPECIAL CHALLENGES TO IWC VOLUNTEERS
A COLD FRONT BRINGS SPECIAL CHALLENGES TO IWC VOLUNTEERS by Michelle Rumbaut The cold front sweeping the country is making…
IWC WELCOMES NEW VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR ALEXANDRIA RODRIGUEZ
Listen to this short video to learn more about IWC’s new Volunteer Coordinator Alexandria Rodriguez and learn why she is…
THANK YOU TO LDS AND TRAVIS PARK CHURCH
LDS Logistics Volunteers move backpacks to IWC storage at Travis Park Church. A big thanks to our Backpack and Logistics…
THANK YOU BAYLOR STUDENTS
The IWC thanks students from Baylor College’s Service Chapel, who partnered with Interfaith Welcome Coalition to pack backpacks for refugees…
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND VOLUNTEER PROJECTS
From Linda Lowman, our Backpack Coordinator: “We received 500 backpacks and 500 stuffed animals from a cooperative effort between Baylor…
THANK YOU TEXAS GIVING MACHINES VOLUNTEERS
We would like to thank Texas Giving Machines, our supporters, and our wonderful IWC volunteers for coming out on Sunday,…
IWC WISHES MOLLY HARDWICK A FOND FAREWELL
Molly Hardwick, the IWC’s second Volunteer Recruiter, will be leaving the IWC at the end of the month to devote…
MY SIX NEW GRANDCHILDREN THROUGH IWC
By Minerva Briones I have four Granddaughters. The other day at the Greyhound bus station during my shift (3 p.m.…
Career Opportunity: Welcome Associate
We are mission-driven. The Interfaith Welcome Coalition is a faith-based movement meeting the changing needs ofasylum-seekers, refugees, and at-risk immigrants…
BACKPACK BRIGADE
For several years now, the Backpack Brigade—a group of three men and six women—has been meeting every Monday morning at Redeemer Presbyterian…
IWC HOLDS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DINNER
About 50 volunteers and staff members broke bread at the annual IWC Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, held at the San Antonio…
Career Opportunity: Volunteer Recruiter
We seek to hire a Volunteer Recruiter to raise awareness of our efforts and bring more mission-driven people into our…
EVELINE AND SANTIAGO’S STORY: THE POWER OF COMPASSION
Image by Juanita Foucault from Pixabay By Jo Pendelton Jessica, the lead pediatric social worker at University Hospital, called me a few weeks…
IWC Seeks New Board Members for 2024-2026
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) seeks new board members for the 2024-2026 term to carry out our mission: To meet…
Prayer Flag Fundraiser by UPC in memory of Rev. Kelly Allen
University Presbyterian Church is fundraising for backpacks for asylum seekers at the bus station and airport. A suggested donation…
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LOAVES AND FISHES
IWC has an urgent need for volunteers to join the Mobile Loaves and Fishes Lunch Delivery team. This team delivers…
IWC VOLUNTEER HELPS SOMEONE BY HELPING HER CHILDREN
By Clemencia L. Prieto In the Fall of 2022, while on duty at the bus station, I saw a guest…
IN MEMORIUM: IWC VOLUNTEER EMILY LEECH
Emily was one of our longest-term volunteers, having been around from the beginning days of IWC. At that time, she…
IWC SERVED ALMOST 6,000 PEOPLE SO FAR IN 2023
With the help of our industrial team of volunteers, IWC served 558 individuals at the airport and 1,012 individuals at…
IWC SEEKS HELP WITH COMMUNICATIONS
Photo Credit: Wikicommons Do you have a background in communications? Do you enjoy writing, editing, photography, graphic design, or social…
IWC SERVED OVER 1,309 PEOPLE IN FEBRUARY
In February 2023 IWC served 495 individuals at the airport, and 814 individuals at the bus station for a total…
CONNECT, RECONNECT, AND BUILD COMMUNITY: IWC FIRST FRIDAY PLATICAS
Building community is important, and after the pandemic, we all need opportunities to connect and reconnect. For the months of…
BACKPACK DRIVE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS
If your group wants to join us in raising awareness and donations for this campaign, please contact Backpack Program Coordinator…
CRITICAL VOLUNTEER NEEDS
IWC has a critical need for volunteers to: Move backpacks from El Divino Church to Travis Park Church (Mondays 10AM-12PM) Unload…
THANK YOU TO LDS AND TRAVIS PARK CHURCH
LDS Logistics Volunteers move backpacks to IWC storage at Travis Park Church. A big thanks to our Backpack and Logistics…
“DIOS ES GRANDE”—A MEMORY FROM OUR EARLY DAYS
Janice Clayton and her dog. Pepys by Janice Clayton One Saturday in the spring of 2015, I received a call…
IWC WAYBACK WHEN
In 2014, more than 68,000 unaccompanied minors were apprehended at the border, many of whom came to San Antonio. Immigration and…
DO YOU LIKE TO SEE GROWN MEN CRY?
By Lucretia Burton Do you like to see grown men cry? I must admit that I do. It brings me…
UNTOLD STORIES
By Lucretia Burton The traumas “the pilgrims” have gone through (and even after they get to the United States)…
MEET OUR INTERNS
Jacqueline Macias (she/her) Jacqueline Macias is a second-generation Mexican American from a farm worker family. She constantly searches for ways to…
IWC SEEKS NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) is seeking new board members for the 2023-2025 term to carry out its mission to…
THE KERRVILLE BACKPACK FRIENDS
On the second Thursday of each month, about a half-dozen Hill Country friends settle into Coral Adema’s comfortable dining room and…
DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
By Sr. Sharon Altendorf Last week, a young Spanish-speaking man asked me if I remembered him. I’m sorry to…
RUTH AND NAOMI
by Dawn Silvius One sunny Saturday morning this past winter, I stopped by the bus station to deliver fresh…
THE PHONE CALL
By Jan Olsen Once at the bus station, a father and son were dropped off from the Karnes Detention Center. I could…
OLD VERSE, NEW MEANING
By Katie Myers One day, Sr. Denise brought to the bus station some Spanish Bibles that had been given to…
WATER CARRIERS
Thank you, Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) team, for helping us move 30 cases of water up three flights…
BACKPACKS! BACKPACKS EVERYWHERE!
Sister Mercedes brought IWC about 100 backpacks one morning. Each one has a blanket, a bag of toiletries, and a…
TO ALL THE IMMIGRANT CHILDREN COMING FROM THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES
I wish I could give you days of joy Bring you pop cycles to cool Your little mouths And water…
Naptime at the Bus Station (Volunteer Poem)
By Cherise Miles Little ones curled up in their mama’s brazos, the safest bed and mas comodo than anything…
Alone at the Bus Station (Volunteer Poem)
by John Dauer The Greyhound station has people everywhere, noise, luggage of all types, talking, movement, sitting, walking, standing.…
NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Have you ever said I’d really love to help but… I don’t speak Spanish It’s too much of a health risk…
IWC HIRES FIRST VOLUNTEER RECRUITER – MOLLY HARDWICK
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) is pleased to announce the selection of Molly Hardwick as our first Volunteer Recruiter. As…
UMC video highlights long-time IWC volunteer experience
Rio Texas Video taken at the Rio Texas (United Methodist) Annual Conference where Katie Myers shares her experiences as a…
GROCERY TOTES & ZAPATITOS (little shoes)
by Dana Clark I heard through the grapevine that many of the migrants carried their supplies in grocery bags which soon…
SAC Center for Civic Engagement Helps IWC Feed Immigrants
On May 27, students of the San Antonio College (SDAC) Center for Civic Engagement made 100 lunch bags for migrants…
Volunteers Needed
While we have many critical volunteer needs, we have a particularly pressing need for volunteers to help with the following:…
A Demonstration of Love: A Volunteers Story
By Dr. Jan Realini One busy Saturday at the bus station, I heard a noise behind me. A woman had…
Update on Our Original Ministries
(NOTE: We have critical needs for volunteers to move needed supplies to where migrants can use them. Please see our…
University Presbyterian Church Assembles Hundreds of Backpacks
Nancy Coffer, Bonnie and Michael Langford, and Judy and Jim Ritchie prepare backpacks for immigrants at the airport. Twice…
IWC Diaper Wishlist on Amazon
Diapers are a big need for asylum seeking families traveling long distances with small children and babies. Your donation helps…
A Friend for the Journey
It’s mid afternoon – the quiet lull at the bus station. Almost all the other families have left and the…
Advocacy Committee call-to-asylum-advocacy
On July 9, 2020 the current administration proposed its latest rules change geared toward denying due process to asylum seekers…
Take action against asylum destruction
There are only a few days left to comment on PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS by the Trump administration that will decimate…
Volunteer Stories
FOCUS ON DETENTION WAREHOUSING
Photo of warehouse property at 542 SE Loop 410 ICE is spending $45 billion in taxpayer money to house humans…
FOCUS ON SECTION 287(g) and SB8 WHAT IS A SECTION 287(g) AGREEMENT?
In 1996, Section 287(g) was added to the Immigration and Nationality Act. This section authorizes ICE to give state and local law…
PASTOR GARCIA WINS HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
(From left) Pastor Dianne Garcia accepts the 2026 Oscar Romero Award from Rothko Chapel Board Member Rev. Laura Mayo and Chief…
PRAYER VIGIL AGAINST DEPORTATION AT SAN ANTONIO ICE OFFICE
Sr. Denise LaRock, an IWC member, joined more than 100 faith leaders and clergy from around the country in a peaceful prayer vigil…
PASTORAL MESSAGE ON MASS DETENTION & DEPORATION IN EL PASO
✠ By Mark J. Seitz, Bishop of El Paso Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness…
FOCUS ON FAITH VOICES
WHAT DOES YOUR FAITH COMPEL YOU TO DO? During the Rio Texas Cabinet December meeting, IWC Board Chair Katie Myers…
INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION
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