Douglas, Arizona — As Title 42’s expiration date looms, faith-based organizations in Douglas are working together to provide food and shelter to asylum seekers.

“We care about people and this is a humane town,” said Pastor Peggy Christiansen of the First Presbyterian Church in Douglas.

It’s unclear how many people will seek asylum through the Douglas port of entry, so local churches are staggering when to open as a shelter.The First Presbyterian Church is the first church to open as a shelter.

Christiansen said it was approved to take 50 people. Once capacity is reached, another church will open. She expects people to stay only for a short time as they catch the bus to Pima County.

The church chose to get involved because it wants to help and care for those in need.

“That’s who we are. We are all children of God and we believe that the happiness of all people is connected,” Christiansen said.

Cochise County provided the church with cots and limited resources, making it the church’s responsibility to provide what was needed to feed and support those remaining.

“It looks like it’s on our hands,” Christiansen said.

Currently, the state provides buses and transportation to Tucson shelters for asylum seekers. It is unclear where they will take people or how long they will continue to assist with transportation if Tucson can no longer accept them.

Members of the First Presbyterian Church congregation are volunteering to support this effort. Susan Kramer is responsible for food when people are staying at the church. She said their main concern is to make sure these people who have been processed and approved have a place to go.

Customs and border agents process people overnight, leaving them stranded at ports of entry, Cramer said. Rather than leading them astray, churchgoers welcome them at the harbor and take them to a church where they can eat and sleep. Kramer expects to leave town on the next bus.

“People seeking asylum across the border don’t want to stay here. They have a goal of being somewhere else and we are helping them get there.”

Cochise County typically doesn’t have many asylum seekers, so local governments and non-profits are making plans.

Related: The Douglas Arizona Sheriff’s Association, among officials expressing concerns about Title 42