In the wake of the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24, Milwaukeeans and other Wisconsinites are working together to provide whatever relief they can, from more than 2,500 miles away.
The “United for Venezuela” emergency relief effort – a donation collection from a partnership among the Milwaukee Brewers, Forward Latino, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish – launched Monday, June 29.
At Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3100 S. 41st St., a nearly constant line of cars dropped off donations, while dozens of people carried donations to the basement.
Darryl Morin, the national president of nonprofit advocacy group Forward Latino, said the collection organizers are overwhelmed by the generosity from Milwaukeeans and beyond.
“Cars and trucks are coming in from all over the state,” Morin said. “We accepted a couple of trucks earlier from Illinois, as well.”
Several Milwaukee Brewers were among the volunteers. Catcher William Contreras, outfielder Jackson Chourio and assistant coach Nestor Corredor – all Venezuelans – stood at the front of a 1 p.m. news conference to provide remarks, surrounded by other Brewers teammates.
“Thank you to everyone who showed up today,” Corredor said. “You don’t have any idea what this means for our country. A lot of people believe in us. A lot of people think that we can help. But we can’t do it without you guys.”
Contreras addressed the crowd in Spanish, thanking volunteers and those providing donations.
“It hasn’t been easy for us, the Venezuelans. Thank you for the support,” Contreras said in Spanish. “It’s difficult to play this way, knowing that we care for and wish we were in Venezuela in this moment to help those that need it. But in this other way, we have to help Venezuela.”
Shortly after 6 p.m. local time June 24, two massive earthquakes struck Venezuela, just 39 seconds apart. The first was a 7.2 on the Richter scale, the second a 7.5. The epicenters were just three miles apart.
As of June 29, at least 1,450 people have been killed, while tens of thousands remain unaccounted for. Thousands more suffered injuries and lost their homes, authorities said.
“Every hour, rescuers continue searching through collapsed buildings, hoping to be the one to find a survivor, while thousands of families are desperately waiting for news with regards to their loved ones,” Morin said. “Behind each one of these numbers is a human story: a mother searching for a child, a father whose lost everything, a family sleeping outdoors, a young child wandering the streets.”
Yet, despite the devastation, volunteers and organizers said it’s special to see the supportive gathering of community members, even those who have no personal ties to Venezuela.
“It’s been beautiful how the community – not only Venezuelans, but we’ve seen Americans, from Dominican Republic, from Argentina … it’s impressive, all the work and everyone helping us,” said volunteer Ana Gilmond, who lives in Milwaukee area but is from Venezuela.
Gilmond said volunteers packed 200 boxes Saturday, June 27. She said the donations have likely already surpassed that in four hours.
“It has been overwhelmingly positive, and we just hope that it can bring a little bit of hope to anybody who needs it right now,” said Jessie Plahmer, another volunteer, from Washington County.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson also gave remarks, thanking the Brewers players and volunteers for showing up for the collection.
“It was difficult getting in here, and I think that’s a good sign,” he said. “That means that people from across this city have shown up because they care, because they want to give back.”
Word of the volunteer opportunity spread through parishes, advocacy organizations like Forward Latino and Voces de la Frontera, and word of mouth. Students in summer school through the Center for Urban Teaching, a Christian nonprofit organization in Milwaukee, are helping out with the donation collection. too.
“As part of this effort, our students are helping collect items as well, and we’ll be also working during the collection hours to collect goods from the community as they’re bringing them in,” said Krysta DeBour, executive director of the Center for Urban Teaching. “Our students will be, very directly, the hands and feet of this work.”
The boxes of donations will go directly to the American Red Cross and Catholic Relief Services, Gilmond said. Donation drop-off will continue every day through Friday, July 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A full list of items the drive is requesting is available at forwardlatino.org. It includes non-perishable food, cases of bottled water, new sleeping bags and blankets, new backpacks and suitcases, new tents, new work gloves, new work boots and new work shovels.
“I’m so proud of how everybody is showing up and caring so much,” Plahmer said. “It is devastating – and also uplifting to see all the support.”
Alyssa N. Salcedo of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers, community team for ‘United for Venezuela’ donation collection
Reporting by Kelli Arseneau, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kelli Arseneau, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
