Earthquake Relief Mobilized
Ecuadorians, who are members of one of the largest immigrant groups on the South Fork, were mobilizing this week to raise money and collect supplies after two earthquakes struck their home country. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday, killing about 500 and injuring thousands. Another quake, of 6.2 magnitude, occurred yesterday morning, hindering rescuers searching for survivors.
Most Ecuadorians in East Hampton have roots in Cuenca, an interior city in the southern part of the country; the devastation occurred along the north Pacific Coast.
Among those mounting a relief effort is the East Hampton Town Latino Advisory Committee. Maritza Guichay, an Ecuadorian who is member of the committee, said it would meet on Monday at 7 p.m. at Town Hall to discuss strategy. Diana Walker, another member of the committee, said on Monday that she hopes $25,000 can be raised for Doctors Without Borders.
“There will be a nonstop need for medical services. Doctors Without Borders told me they are sending a team to evaluate what’s going on, but don’t yet have a funding vehicle specifically for Ecuador in place. But I’m sure there will be a lot of scrambling.” Minerva Perez, executive director of OLA, Organizacion Latino-Americana of Eastern Long Island, agreed that Doctors Without Borders should be a primary beneficiary of the money raised.
Ecuadorian residents on the South Fork have also taken to Facebook to organize collections of tents, sleeping bags and bedding, canned foods and beverages, flashlights and candles, batteries, medical supplies, baby bottles and diapers, hygiene products, mosquito repellant, and dog food. Clothing, however, will not be included, Ms. Guichay said.
Collection sites include Village Hardware on Newtown Lane in East Hampton, Mitad del Mundo Express, 108 North Main Street in East Hampton, and Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 2350 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. Mitad del Mundo Express will host a gathering for those making donations on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ms. Guichay said. On the page of East End Cares, a public group on Facebook, Kathryn Bermudez wrote on Tuesday that her company, VIP Hampton Cleaning, would assist in picking up large donations.
Those interested in donating supplies can also go to the website of the Ecuadorian Consulate in New York City, cecunuevayork.com. The site includes a list of designated couriers to which supplies can be taken, with locations in Patchogue, Farmingdale, Selden, and Coram. Ms. Guichay said yesterday that Mitad del Mundo Express and Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church would be added to its list.
Relief supplies can also be brought to any of the consulate’s three locations: the main office at 800 Second Avenue in Manhattan, 67-21 Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, Queens, or 24-15 Queens Plaza North in Long Island City.
Visitors to the website can also find a link to the Ecuadorian Red Cross, where monetary donations can be made.