EL PASO , Texas ( CNN ) -- El Paso native Maria Ruiz knows firsthand how different life can be a mere 30-minute drive south of her Texas home . The sight of families living in homes made of wooden pallets pushed Maria Ruiz into action . `` Just by crossing the border , you 're in a Third World country , '' Ruiz said . For 12 years , she 's traveled several times a week to the outskirts of Juarez , Mexico , bringing aid to hundreds of impoverished children and their families . Ruiz 's family has roots in Juarez , but it was n't until 1996 that she ventured outside the city . There , for the first time , she saw poverty in the extreme . People lived in homes made of wooden pallets . The elementary school was built of makeshift materials and had no running water or electricity . Teachers told her that many children were failing because they were hungry . `` My heart went out to those kids , '' Ruiz recalled . `` I could n't just cross my arms and turn away from it . I needed to do something . '' Ruiz got donations from El Paso businesses , and within one week , she was running a food program out of her home . She cooked meals in her kitchen and drove the food south to the Juarez school . She fed approximately 1,200 children every day for three and a half years , until the businesses she depended on for donations shut down in 1999 . But that did n't stop Ruiz from helping the children in Juarez . Now , working with her husband and two children , she gathers donations from around El Paso -- food , clothing , toys , even furniture -- and distributes them at local `` giveaways '' a couple of times a month . This is no easy task . The Mexican government charges customs fees when large amounts of goods are brought across the border . To avoid this , Ruiz makes several trips every week . `` You bring the stuff little by little , like the ants , '' she said . Although the trip south can be just 30 minutes , long lines coming back into the U.S. mean the return trip can take a couple of hours . On top of that , Juarez is at the center of a drug war , so Ruiz needs to take precautions to ensure her safety . But for her , helping kids in need is worth the effort . Watch Ruiz describe why she takes risks to help kids » . `` When you make a child smile , '' she said , `` it 's awesome . '' Although conditions have improved , most families that Ruiz helps still live in poverty , so the Ruiz family has plans to do even more . They 're building a community kitchen with space to feed 500 , an orphanage for 100 residents and a trade school . They work on the complex every weekend , and although there 's more to do , they 're hoping to be open this summer . The very thought of seeing the orphanage up and running makes Ruiz smile . Watch Ruiz describe how she 's helping turn a hill into a haven » . `` It 'll be a dream come true when it happens , '' she said . `` I pray that it is soon . '' Strong religious beliefs help keep Ruiz motivated , and her family 's efforts are part of their ministry , called JEM ( Jesus es Mana ) Ministries . Their Juarez complex even includes a small sanctuary where her husband preaches every Sunday . But Ruiz stresses that they 're happy to help anyone , regardless of their beliefs . `` We are open to the community as a whole , '' she said . `` It 's equal for everybody . '' Watch Ruiz talk about bringing aid across the border » . Ruiz says the children have kept her coming back to Juarez . When she reflects on her work , she does n't consider herself a hero . `` I know I can do much more . ''
El Paso native Maria Ruiz provides aid to thousands of impoverished Mexicans . She crosses the border several times a year to the outskirts of Juarez . Her family 's ministry is building community center , orphanage and elementary school .