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Everything You Need to Know About Mercury One's Border Relief Effort
GB (Photo: TheBlaze

Everything You Need to Know About Mercury One's Border Relief Effort

Mercury One, the charity founded by Glenn Beck, went to the border in McAllen, Texas on Saturday to distribute tractor-trailers full of food, water, clothing and toys to the illegal immigrant children who are pouring into the United States.

While Beck has consistently maintained that everyone who is in the United States illegally must be sent back to their home countries, he also says we must take care of the children in need until they are sent home.

You can get live updates from the day in the slideshow from glennbeck.com, below:

Before sunrise, Glenn Beck, Dana Loesch, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) went to the border to get a better understanding of what the day would bring.

Glenn Beck and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) visit the border in McAllen, Texas before sunrise on July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Glenn Beck visit the border in McAllen, Texas before sunrise on July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

TheBlaze's Mike Opelka went with them, and captured what he described as "heartbreaking" images:

After the sun rose, the group joined volunteers from Mercury One, local churches, and Operation BBQ Relief -- which Mercury One partnered with for the event -- to distribute food, water, clothing, and toys to the illegals.

Dana Loesch distributes supplies to illegal immigrant children in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: TheBlaze) Dana Loesch joins volunteers in distributing supplies to illegal immigrant children in McAllen, Texas on July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

Mercury One distributes food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) Volunteers distribute food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas on July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

    Mercury One distributes food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) Glenn Beck joins Mercury One volunteers in distributing food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas on July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

Volunteers prepared small gift bags for each of the children. The bags contained food, water, a soccer ball and a stuffed animal:

Volunteers distribute food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) Volunteers create gift bags containing food, water, a soccer ball and a stuffed animal for illegal immigrant children the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

Mercury One volunteers distribute food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) Children hold their new stuffed animals in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

Mercury One volunteers distribute food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) A child smiles with his new soccer ball in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

Opelka wrote on twitter:

Mercury One distributes food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) Volunteers distribute food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

Volunteers came from all walks of life. One girl appeared to be no older than those she was helping:

Mercury One volunteers distribute food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) Mercury One volunteers distribute food, water, and other supplies to illegal immigrant children at the border in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

TheBlaze TV interviewed one individual who said he came from Nebraska, and felt called to help:

Joe Kerry, the president of Mercury One, said local churches expected to see roughly 150 volunteers, but 375 came. Mercury One expected 50 volunteers, but 75 came, some traveling all the way from New York, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Utah.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., were also able to come for part of the event.

Glenn Beck, Alveda King, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) meet with Sister Norma Pimentel of the Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014.  (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze) Glenn Beck, Alveda King, Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) meet with Sister Norma Pimentel of the Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

Cruz joined Mercury One volunteers in unloading supplies:

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) helped Mercury One unload supplies for its border relief effort in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Steve Krakauer/TheBlaze) Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) helped Mercury One unload supplies for its border relief effort in McAllen, Texas July 19, 2014. (Photo: Steve Krakauer/TheBlaze)

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) helps Mercury One volunteers unload supplies in McAllen, Texas on July 19, 2014. (Photo: Steve Krakauer/TheBlaze) Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) helps Mercury One volunteers unload supplies in McAllen, Texas on July 19, 2014. (Photo: Steve Krakauer/TheBlaze)

While in McAllen, Beck, Cruz, and Weber, among others, were able to tour the medical and temporary housing facilities.

Glenn Beck, Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speak after touring the medical facilities in McAllen, Texas. (Photo: TheBlaze TV) Glenn Beck, Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speak after touring the medical facilities in McAllen, Texas. (Photo: TheBlaze TV)

One volunteer said many of the children "break down" when they get to the temporary housing facilities, pictured below, since it is often where "reality sets in":

Dana Loesch tours the temporary housing facilities at the border in McAllen, Texas on July 19, 2013. (Photo: Steve Krakauer/TheBlaze) Dana Loesch tours the temporary housing facilities at the border in McAllen, Texas on July 19, 2013. (Photo: Mike Opelka/TheBlaze)

After helping to provide food, water, clothing, and toys to thousands of illegal immigrant children, Beck called together a roundtable of spiritual leaders to discuss the crisis, and what the American people can do to remedy it.

The complete discussion will air on TheBlaze TV in the coming days.

This is a breaking news story. Updates will be added.

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