The Mexican Consulate of Chicago visited Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Silvis, Ill. drawing over 500 people per day for the four day session August 2-5. Mexican ID cards (matriculas) and passports were issued for those haven’t been able to make the trip to Chicago in the past.
Community advocate Stella Schneekloth
said that the event was a big savings for the people. She mentioned that Casa Guanajuato provided the refreshments and that it took many volunteers to put on the consulado movil (mobile consulate). Though the Mexican consulate was there to provide identifications and passports, lenders were introduced to the people in attendance, as well as social and health services like Community Health Care.
“It’s quite a feat to reach out roughly 2,000 people,” she said.
The first day’s session had run out of passports before noon of that day. Only 300 passports were to be issued per day.
Eloy Reyes, who sold passport photos and photocopies at the event, said that he was there from 5 a.m. and that people were waiting from 7 a.m. Some people even came as early as 3 a.m. to get in line.
“It started early,” Mr. Reyes said.
A kids coloring area was available for the children because some families had to wait in upwards of three hours. People interviewed said that time and money saved from going to Chicago made the wait worth it. Another person said that they could now open up a checking account. Of the five randomly interviewed people, all five said they found out about the event by reading Hola America. The Spanish programming on KALA Radio 88.5 FM and 105.5 FM and English-Spanish newspaper Hola- America were the only media to have promoted the event.