After a magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck El Cairo, a municipality in the northern part of the Valle del Cauca department in western Colombia, on Monday, Aug. 10, organizations in Puerto Rico and Colombians living on the Island have mobilized to collect essential items and supplies for those affected.
Read the guide to find out how, when and where to help Colombian brothers and sisters after the earthquake.
🤝🏽 Where to donate money
Fundación Siembra Vida
Supply delivery by Fundación Siembra Vida in Colombia (Provided)
This is the sister foundation of Chef's Garden restaurant in Rincón, run by chef Josiah Hernández. It operates a community kitchen in Cali, Colombia, and is channeling aid to those affected and to rescue workers.
"We are raising more funds to reach all the rescue workers and the families searching for their lost loved ones. We are bringing hot food. We are using our own community kitchen in Cali to cook everything," chef Hernández told Platea.
You can donate through the website: https://www.siembravida.org/donate.
United Way Puerto Rico
"We activated our efforts to raise funds that will be channeled through United Way Colombia, our sister organization within the global United Way network. They have a close knowledge of the affected communities and their needs," Glorymar Rivera, president of United Way Puerto Rico, told Platea.
You can donate up to $1,500 through ATH Móvil Business at /UnitedWayPR.
To make a donation of up to $9,999, you can visit the organization's website.
Fundación Mochileando
According to Fundación Mochileando's social media posts, the organization began sending aid directly to ground zero in northern Valle del Cauca, including Cartago and other affected communities, and is working alongside on-the-ground organizations to channel assistance.
The foundation reported that it has already sent funds for the purchase of food staples, which will be distributed directly to affected families. It also noted that its team will be in the area in the coming days to identify other needs and expand the reach of the aid.
You can donate:
PayPal: paypal.me/mochileando
ATH Móvil: Donate → Fundación Mochileando (Write Colombia so they know the aid is destined for Colombia)
Venmo: @FundacionMochileando
Cruz Roja Colombiana
In response to the emergency, the Cruz Roja Colombiana activated its specialized search-and-rescue teams and has kept them on standby.
You can donate through the website.
Fundación PLAN
With donations, Fundación PLAN works to help girls, boys, adolescents, young people and families affected by the earthquake in Chocó and other areas cope with the emergency and recover their well-being.
You can donate through the website.
Asociación Banco de Alimentos Colombia (ABACO)
You can donate through the website.
UNICEF Colombia
UNICEF deployed its humanitarian response to support children and families affected in Chocó and Buenaventura, where it will concentrate its initial aid efforts.
You can donate through the website.
🩹 Where to donate supplies
Teatro Braulio Castillo
Colombian influencer, host and comedian Gianluca Perotti, known as "El Borimbiano" and based in Puerto Rico, will join forces with Fundación Mochileando to collect supplies at his upcoming stand-up show "El Guaynabito de Corozal."
When: Saturday, Aug. 29, starting at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Teatro Braulio Castillo
Additional details about the schedule and which items to bring have not yet been shared. We will update this article as information becomes available.
Departamento de Estado
The Puerto Rico government announced Wednesday, Aug. 12, that it will establish collection centers on the Island to channel humanitarian aid to Colombia. Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana confirmed this, noting that the collection sites have not yet been designated.
We will update this article as information becomes available.
🌎 Initiatives outside of Puerto Rico
Concert "Unidos por los Nuestros"
Marc Anthony, Luis Fonsi, Chayanne, Feid and Jay Wheeler will perform at a benefit concert at Kaseya Center in Miami on Aug. 16, to raise funds for people affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia, the AP reported.
Revenue from donations and ticket sales during "Unidos por los Nuestros" will be managed by the Maestro Cares Foundation of Marc Anthony along with Fundación Univision, and will benefit organizations such as All Hands and Hearts, CARE and World Central Kitchen.
Collection center: Global Empowerment Mission Latin America (GEM LATAM)
Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is a humanitarian aid organization founded in 2011, based in Doral, Florida, dedicated to delivering assistance to people affected by disasters as quickly as possible.
GEM is accepting donations and volunteers to respond to the earthquake that struck Colombia on Aug. 10. Its team is already in the country providing immediate assistance.
When: Donations are accepted Monday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: 1850 NW 84th Ave, Suite #100, Doral, FL 33126.
To volunteer, visit gem.org/volunteer or write to info@gem.org.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
