Blog
NMI Spotlight: Holding Institute
by Catey Miller
For more than a century, Holding Institute has been a place of welcome and care in downtown Laredo, Texas. What began as a school for Mexican American children who were barred from Texas public schools has grown into a vibrant community center offering more than 20 programs for women, children, youth, and families. As a National Mission Institution (NMI) in covenant relationship with United Women in Faith, Holding Institute continues to respond to evolving needs along the Texas-Mexico border with compassion and dignity.
Playground Equipment
One example of how United Women in Faith supports Holding Institute is a recent grant to repair and replace playground equipment at its community shelter. This seemingly simple investment has had a profound impact: In 2024 alone, Holding Institute received more than 100,000 individuals at its shelter, many of them families with children who had experienced extreme stress, uncertainty, and displacement. Play and recreation have become a vital tool for healing, offering these children a sense of normalcy and joy amid chaos.
This important work doesn’t falter when circumstances shift suddenly. In early 2025, Holding Institute was featured in USA Today for its role in receiving immigrant families released from detention to its shelter. The article highlights ways in which Pastor Mike Smith and the rest of the Holding Institute team welcome families from many countries, often after weeks of detention. Holding Institute provides food, rest, and short-term support as these migrants prepare to reunite with family or connect with communities elsewhere. The USA Today coverage underscores the Institute’s long-standing role as a trusted, steady presence for families who arrive with immediate needs.
Facing Challenges
Like many nonprofits today, Holding Institute faces significant challenges. Federal reimbursement funding that previously supported shelter operations has been eliminated, creating a major financial shortfall. Following this loss of federal funding, Holding transitioned to a community-based service model in an effort to adjust its size while maintaining its service footprint — a difficult balance as demand continues to grow for safe, humane shelter and community support on the border.
In the midst of uncertainty, Holding Institute remains grounded in its mission: to encourage health and wellness, empower education, improve community, and invite discipleship. Whether through a repaired playground, a warm meal, or a safe place to rest, Holding Institute continues to meet people where they are, responding not only to long-term needs but also to urgent moments as they arise.
With your support, NMIs like Holding Institute can continue showing up for their communities in bold, practical ways. Our members help make these organizations unstoppable. We invite United Women in Faith members to support the work of our National Mission Institutions by giving online here or by writing a check to your local treasurer with memo “National Missions #3001152.” To learn more about National Mission Institutions, contact NMI@uwfaith.org.
Catey Miller is a communications consultant with National Mission Institutions at United Women in Faith.
