By Kate Morgan-Olsen

People Helping People was formed in 2012 by a core group of Arivaca residents involved in providing humanitarian aid on the US/Mexico border.  All of the founding members had been living in Arivaca and volunteering with various humanitarian aid organizations based out of Tucson, but working in the Arivaca area. The need to grow community support for those living and providing aid in the area, as well as dealing with border patrol encounters, was clear.

By Kate Morgan-Olsen

Arivaca, AZ is a small rural community located in the militarized zone of the border region between the United States and Mexico. With a population of about 700, Arivaca is also a vibrant loving community that cares for each other. As with many border communities, residential life in Arivaca has been deeply impacted by mass migration and the subsequent arrival of  thousands of border patrol agents and expansive enforcement infrastructure to the area. Locals routinely encounter federal agents on their property, in town, on the road, or in the many helicopters flying overhead. All residents and visitors to the area must pass through an immigration checkpoint to confirm their citizenship status. And yet while living under this sizable presence of immigration enforcement for years, Arivacans routinely provide critical care and humanitarian aid to migrants in distress. This beautiful community of diverse people care about human dignity and helping others. Arivaca will not turn a blind eye to the death and suffering that occurs in our backyard.

People Helping People is involved in several community projects. We co-sponsor the Arivaca Humanitarian Aid Office, which has been an extremely successful project and wonderful resource to the community. We host events and educational workshops such as Know Your Rights Trainings, Medical Trainings, Spanish Classes, and various presentations about the border/prison industrial complex and other border crises topics. Please see our calendar for upcoming events.

We are currently launching a campaign to demilitarize, and restore peace and justice to the borderlands. Please join us in this phenomenal effort!