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Giving children in need a secure haven
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June 19, 2024Sister Milagros Tormo is a petite woman of 78 years. But her energy and zeal beat many decades younger than her. Her love and dedication to children who need to be removed from her family for their well-being have kept her going for over 30 years. 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the press conference when she and her team announced the plans for the Ark Assessment Center.
"It started when I was working at Catholic Charities as the Emergency Aid Director," says Sr. Milagros. "We had two prevention programs – New Life for girls and Turn Around for boys from rural areas. But we had them only two weekends per month, and we realized that we didn't impact their lives."
Due to a difficult financial situation, these programs were cut. And that was the moment that, with the help of Msgr. Robert Freeman, the plans for the ARK evolved. 1997, they had a transitional year and put together a Board of Directors. Bishop Gracida gave her congregation, the Missionary Sisters of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the land in Calallen. "At the end of 1999, we applied for the State license to operate as an assessment and emergency shelter for children from 0 to 17 years."
Soon, the first children arrived. The Ark can host 65 children; however, there are fewer arrivals after the pandemic – on average, 10 to 15 children at a time. In Sr. Milagros' opinion, this is not because there is less abuse and neglect but because "the people are better at hiding it." The children stay in the shelter for a few hours up to 90 days while the Child Protection Services are looking for family members or foster families who can take care of the children. Over the years, the Ark has received mostly younger children from 0-6 years old because other places in South Texas can welcome older kids.
Some cases stay forever in her mind. "Often, man uses a baby to give a lesson to the mother," is her experience. One baby boy arrived, and the medical examination revealed that his skull was broken 70 times. He was in intensive care for weeks and will have permanent difficulties in his life. "The mother stayed all the time by his side, but in the end, she couldn't decide to let go of her boyfriend in favor of her little boy… she gave him into foster care." A little girl was brought to them by the police because the staff at a fast-food place noticed her coming in and taking all the coffee creamers she could carry. When she arrived the second time, they called the police, who followed them, only to discover that the girl had taken the creamers for her baby sister – the mother had left the two little girls alone. "She tried to give her a bottle the best way she could."
Sister Milagros thinks that many people today lack fundamental values because no one ever taught them. "As a family, you need to teach your children. You need to be together, have dinner together—not let your children be on their phones or watching TV all the time."
She grew up in a poor but united family and left her home in Madrid at 19 to join the order. The order's mission is to serve and educate the poor, so the ARK shelter, which now has 17 staff members, is right on target.
When the babies or young children come, they encounter a safe place. "They are traumatized, they have suffered abuse – only after 1 – 2 days they are starting to feel secure." While the state covers the minimum needs, Sr. Milagros is an avid fundraiser. "The children should leave with seven changes of clothes and a ty – when they wake up in their foster home, they have something familiar." And she remembers a little boy who had to go to a family member's funeral. "We got him a black suit… nobody should look at him and see him as a shelter boy."
She also followed a priest's advice: "Never ask for money… tell the people, 'I need to do this or that. How can I get there? Can you help me?'" Thus, the Ark now has a playground, an outdoor play pavilion, and a chapel.
The Ark Gala 2024 will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the press conference held Nov. 3, 1994 at the Marriott Bayfront Hotel to publicly announce plans to create the shelter. The fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, 1213 Terry Shamsie Blvd., in Robstown.
