Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas — Community leaders, elected officials, and long-time collaborators gathered at a luncheon in McAllen to recognize Sister Norma Pimentel following her selection as one of TIME magazine’s 2026 Women of the Year.
The event, held at Koko’s Mexican Restaurant and led by master of ceremonies Joe Brown, brought together local figures including Father Larry Snyder, Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez, former McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, and community partners who shared accounts of Pimentel’s work through Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.
Speakers described her leadership in establishing the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen during a period when thousands of migrants arrived in the Rio Grande Valley without shelter, food, or resources. Cortez recalled the scale of the situation, stating, “We had all those immigrants coming here in the thousands, some tired, hungry, no food, no shelter. Here’s Sister Norma, who set up a facility there… totally dedicated to serving those people.”
He also noted the added difficulty during the COVID-19 pandemic, when migrants arriving in the region required testing and care. “For her to come up right away and want to test them… things that our government wasn’t doing,” Cortez said, describing how local officials and community members worked together to respond.
Darling recounted the early days of the crisis, when migrants were left at a McAllen bus station. “We decided to keep it open… We thought it would all be over the next day, but it wasn’t,” he said. He described how the response moved to a church facility, where he first met Pimentel, calling the experience “a mix of emotions—sad, hopeful, and challenging all at once.”
Community members also emphasized Pimentel’s hands-on approach. Tim Smith, who has worked with her on donation efforts for decades, said, “No matter where she’s been or what she has going on, she still takes the time to show up and do the work.”
Julieta Garcia, chair of the Catholic Charities board, highlighted the community effort behind the work. “Sister could not have done what she has done without the help of so many hundreds and thousands of people,” she said, adding that continued support remains necessary.
During the event, McAllen Mayor Pro Tem and commissioner Seby Haddad read a city proclamation recognizing Pimentel’s humanitarian work and officially declaring May 4, 2026, as Sister Norma Pimentel Day in McAllen. The proclamation cited her role in assisting hundreds of thousands of migrants through the respite center and her impact on the region and beyond.
In her remarks, Pimentel attributed the recognition to collective action across the Rio Grande Valley. “I cannot be who I am without you,” she told attendees. “It is together.”
She described the early response to migrant arrivals in McAllen, recalling that the initial effort began with a call for help. “I said, ‘I have no clue… but we’ll figure it out together,’” she said, explaining how volunteers mobilized through community networks and social media to provide essential supplies.
Pimentel also recalled telling local officials at the time, “Restoring human dignity, that’s what we’re doing,” as volunteers worked to assist families arriving from the border.
Organizers noted that the gathering was intentionally small at Pimentel’s request, reflecting what Brown described as her preference for a “special group” of supporters who have worked alongside her over the years.
The luncheon concluded with expressions of gratitude from attendees and recognition of the ongoing work supporting vulnerable populations in the Rio Grande Valley.
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