It’s not too late to help the people of Ecuador
Ecuadorians for UF are coming together to make a difference
This is a call to all UF students, please help Ecuadorians in need with donations. Ecuador is home to many UF students and we need your help. Its never too late to help!
Ecuador was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake this past Saturday and has left many victims on the streets who need our help. I was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador and I only experienced one earthquake in my time there, it was horrible. In my country, there is no way to predict an earthquake, we do not know until it happens. We experience it, we live it. During the earthquake, lights go off and you are in the dark, everything is moving at a great speed and you don’t know where to hide because our homes are not built to survive strong earthquakes.
My family called me on April 16th after they had experienced the earthquake, we instantly became terrified for our family members who live by the coastal areas and had experienced the worst part of it. We tuned into the internet to find any information regarding what just happened but it was not until more than 15 minutes passed that the world had begun to find that Ecuador was hit by its strongest earthquake in their history. I stalked Facebook to see my family members marking themselves safe after the earthquake but many were not so lucky.
This earthquake has taken more than 400 lives and many are still missing; it has left many families on the streets without light, food or shelter. Every day that passes, less local resources are available, and Ecuador needs our donations to help many people who are currently struggling to survive.
Most of Ecuador was affected by the epicenter of the earthquake such as the Esmeraldas, Los Rios, Manabi, Santa Elena, Guayas, and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas. These affected areas are close to Ecuadorians’ hearts because we have walked those streets, met the families living there, our ancestors have lived there and have told us stories about the communities living there.
Everyday, I talk with my family and they tell me how streets are destroyed, the rescuers are discovering more bodies and that many families are not receiving help or resources. Many of my family members are becoming volunteers and donations are greatly needed in form of water and food.
Members of the Ecuadorians in UF Facebook group have come together to start a donation drive to collect money and items to assist with earthquake relief. I know many of us as students do not have all the things that are asked as donations, but the smallest of help is worth a life. Ecuador needs you, you can help with any small donation and we thank you, all of Ecuador thanks you.
Keep in mind there is substantial rainfall in Ecuador and diseases are starting to rise, please help with ponchos or any form that helps Ecuadorians keep dry during the rainfalls. In Gainesville we’ve have experienced strong rainfalls during the fall semester, so please consider that families are experiencing that in the streets due to their safety and precaution from unstable buildings.
The donations will be delivered directly to the Ecuadorian Consulate office in Miami this weekend to be shipped to disaster areas. Donations will be accepted until April 21. It is never too late, donations are accepted all day and night. Please drop by the many campus destinations, check out the pages I provided at the end and you can contact me if you life off campus and are not close by those places, my family is open to come by and pick up the donations and dropping them off.
Collection bins are set up around campus at the following destinations:
La Casita -1504 W. University Avenue
La Salita- 2nd floor of the Reitz Union
Fifield Hall- Dept. of Horticulture
McCarty Hall B- Food & Resource Economics dept.
Matherly Hall- Economics dept.
Steinmetz Hall- Dept. of Entomology and Nematology
Grinter Hall MDP Program office 4th floor
Health Sciences Library
Urgent Needed Items
Women’s hygiene products/pads
Think Blankets, sheets, etc
First Aid kits
Medical Gloves
Energy Bars
Mosquito repellents, hand sanitizer
Ponchos, umbrellas, etc
There is a proposition for all of Ecuador and Ecuadorians in the world to use Thursday, 21st of April to wear the colors of Ecuador to pay homage to the fallen compatriots and affected by the the earthquake. We are united apart from donations to bring hope to Ecuadorians, and to our beautiful Ecuador. Thank you.