Bonita Hispanics get guide of their own

Spanish speaking immigrants who move to Bonita Springs are often facing language barriers and missing valuable information they need as newcomers to the area.

Because most information isn’t in a language they can read or understand, the Amigos Center in Bonita Springs has stepped in to help and get newcomers the information they seek.

The church based group has spent the last five years publishing an informative guide for newcomers in Spanish that includes local churches, banks, libraries and even social service centers.

“We put it together because I noticed that this newcomers guide was readily available in most newspapers in English,” said Roberto Selle, a pastor at the Amigos En Cristo Lutheran Church in Bonita Springs for nine years. “I wanted to put something together that was relevant for the Hispanic population that comes here.”

The almost 60 page book is detailed with listings and services available at the Amigos Center and throughout Bonita Springs with an emphasis on immigration services.

“I would hope they would be able to find out about our Amigos Center and that they can get the help they need,” said Selle, who is also a pastor at the Saint Michael Lutheran Church Hispanic in Fort Myers.

Local advertisers pay for space in the book and the money is used for production and printing costs with help from the Amigos Center and private grants.

Several associations also give money to produce the book and get a mention in the guide.

“This is the kind of information that people are looking for when they come to our Amigos Center and some of this will help people to inform themselves (without coming to the center),” Selle said.

The Spanish guidebook is available at public libraries, the Amigos Center, and social service agencies that cater to the Hispanic community.

The Amigos Center offers services in Bonita Springs, Golden Gate, and Fort Myers. They have plans to open an office in Immokalee.

An electronic version of the guidebook is also available at the group’s website.

“It’s the perfect way for us to be able to provide this information to our target group,” said Selle, who plans to release a Creole version of the guidebook next year.