Atlanta Transit Angels

We’ve all been watching and waiting and now the buses are loading up. People arrive with legal status but with only a bus ticket paid by their sponsor at their destination. A bus ride can take 2 days from the border. That’s a long time with no money, little clothing - and children, some in diapers.

Our little team is working to meet buses with hot soup, snacks, diapers and even a few extras like stuffed animals and toothbrushes.

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After days of shuttling in and out of offices come more days of climbing onto and off buses. Sometimes the clothing of the little ones just doesn’t look its best. It’s an extra happy shift when we have just the right size, like yesterday!

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Usually we serve hot soups, snacks and fruit but this day Stephanie found some hair ornaments and bands, so these little girls got some special love.

A bus station is not what you think of as a happy place, but today every single weary traveler had a big smile. We were busy providing the last of the soup and snacks and diapers - the usual - including to a young mom and toddler. As we started out the door to leave, wishing everyone “buen viaje”, a young man burst through the door and flung himself into the arms of the woman who sprang to her feet as she saw him. We won’t know the eventual outcome. I gave them a sheet of Atlanta-based free legal advice. I only hope it’s as happy an outcome as that reunion. I’m still smiling 2 hours later. 💕💯💕

And bonus smiles in case you can use them: Daphne and Diane, who got to the station ahead of me, saw an earlier tearful reunion. What have these people endured to see each other again?

Meet Dylan, enjoying his “sopita” while he and his dad wait for their bus. Thank you from Dylan to the friends who have provided this soup and snacks. His father had on a Johnny Cash t-shirt, and their destination is Nashville - buen viaje!

A friend to cuddle makes the journey so much better. This little bear was a gift from a young neighbor to Atlanta Transit Angel Daphne, and it will find a new home somewhere far from the chaos of Honduras. Buen viaje hija!

Small number of travelers today, Mother’s Day, and all of them were mothers with small children. Three buses came through Tornado. Soup for all, blankets and the two little boys got new trousers. Miraculously, I had the right sizes in my little supply. Happy Mother’s Day to all and buena suerte on your journey.

Even real tornadoes don’t stop the Tornado buses from arriving with tired but hopeful travelers from the border. Today with new team member Carol we served a big group of 15 adults and 10 children. As usual, the children ranged from impossibly cute to off the chain cute and today no one was sick. We are reading that the policy is now actively to reunite families and we couldn’t be happier. Outside the station we often see such joy when families are in each other’s arms again! It’s hard to imagine it was ever policy to separate children from their parents. But never forget that it was. And never let it happen again.

This gentleman is traveling with his little daughter through to Charlotte. Both had their shoelaces taken away, who can understand why. We were able to give them both new ones, and also soup and snacks for their onward journey. Today at Tornado we served around 8 adults and six children and we are expecting 16 at Omnibus. What a beautiful day!

Yesterday this chunky little muffin came through our Omnibus midday shift. We had diapers and a change of onesie for him as he continued on his journey to Baltimore. Bienvenido!