Field Trip: Healing Center & Su Casa Hispanic Center

Today we got a look at two effective, privately-run approaches to providing for the physical, financial, and spiritual needs of those members of the local latino immigrant community who find themselves in need.  I was especially impressed with the Healing Center in Springdale, both in terms of sheer size and in number of services offered.  Rather than a reliance on faceless bureaucrats and government funding, this facility is able to provide assistance in just about every area of life where a person may be in need, all under one roof.  That such an institution is found in the community where it is needed, staffed largely by volunteers who are there solely because they genuinely care about people and their condition, acknowledges the humanity and dignity of those involved.  The Healing Center should, in my view, serve as a model for providing services.