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About Mano
The Mexican American Neighbor
Organization was founded in 1962 as a nonprofit organization to provide
community development assistance to low income communities of Mexico.
MANO was founded
by members of the Cardijn Center, an alliance of social action groups
concerned with the betterment of human relations.
MANO members cross the Mexico frontier and join with these neighbors in
their endeavors to improve their living conditions. Our motivation stems
from love of God, recognition of the dignity of every human being, and
conviction that we need to be joined hand to hand with those we can reach.
In Spanish "MANO" means hand--hands joined across the border,
in friendship and in work, to serve those most in need by providing community
development assistance.
Activities
Over the past 40 plus years we have gathered food, clothing, household
goods and money for distribution to many neighborhoods, children's homes,
senior facilities, and individual families in need. We also answer requests
from groups and families in California and other countries when special
needs arise.
Currently the MANO van and its volunteer drivers collect food and household
goods and deliver them to Tijuana five days per week. MANO has no paid
staff. Our expenses include fuel, service and insurance for our van and
printing and postage for our publication.
All other monies are used to aid the poor.
In 1990 we established a medical outpatient clinic for the poor in Colonia Miramar, Tijuana. This evolved into a 2-story 11,000 square feet modern Charity hospital providing surgical, dental, obstetric and prenatal care and internal medicine as well as outpatient services. This care is free to those who cannot pay, but those who have the means to do so pay according to their ability.
The construction and operation of this hospital was made possible through the help of many individuals, organizations, and contributors such as the International Relief Teams (irteams.org), US Navy and Marine Corp, church groups, foundations and businesses in Mexico, the United States and Europe. Volunteer laborers and in-kind donations of materials and medical equipment are a vital portion of this project.
With the help of many benefactors, land was purchased and initial construction was started for a full-service hospital. In 2001 the larger hospital consisted of just a few steel beams. In 2004 the small dispensary has moved into the nearly completed hospital.
 When you open your hands to the poor, you open your heart to God. ---St. Vincent de Paul |
 MANO Board members next to the MANO delivery van, 2004 |
 Center:
Father James Hagan, Director of the Clinic construction, with members
of the International Relief Teams, at new Clinic Inauguration, February
6, 2003. |