After a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday — little more than a month after twin quakes devastate neighboring Venezuela — the South Florida community is again being asked to step up with relief donations.
And once again, the nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission, or GEM, in Doral has taken the lead.
Aid efforts are especially urgent in this case, say Colombian diaspora activists, because the earthquake's epicenter was inside the remote Pacific coastal state of Chocó, part of one of the country's more impoverished regions.
GEM president Michael Capponi told WLRN the most important items donors can bring to its warehouse at 1850 NW 84th Avenue in Doral are first aid and camping gear — such as tents and blankets — for the thousands of Colombians injured and forced from their homes by the disaster.
Capponi said GEM prefers cash donations for items it can more effectively procure and distribute inside Colombia, such as food, water and hygiene kits.
GEM will be making its first distributions of aid it's now flying in from Miami on Wednesday at 3 pm in the hard hit city of Pereira. The larger city of Cali will be the focus on Thursday, followed by other affected sites such as Manizales, where a historic cathedral crumbled in the earthquake.
READ MORE: Colombia searches for over 3,000 missing after a powerful earthquake kills more than 100
Colombian community leaders say aid can also be sent via Servientrega in South Florida locations such as Kendall. (Servientrega is a company that specializes in shipping services to Colombia and other Andean nations.)
Online donations can be made to nonprofits including the Cruz Roja Colombiana and DirectRelief.
World Central Kitchen, the food charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, said it was providing meals on the ground to people in need.
In Broward County, Colombian organizations mounting relief efforts include Semillas Colombia. It's partnering with local churches such as Grace Alone in Fort Lauderdale and Iglesia de Cristo in Oakland Park to receive donations.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the death toll from the Colombian quake was at least 220, and was expected to rise. Hundreds if not thousands more people are missing.
The Colombian government has declared a national disaster. The U.S. has so far pledged $15.5 million for relief.
Starting Monday, August 17, drop-off collection bins will be open at the following locations:
Broward County Libraries:
- Miramar Branch Library and Education Center
2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar 33025
Mon-Wed: 10am - 8pm, Thurs-Sat: 10am - 6pm (Closed Sundays) - North Regional/Broward College Library
1100 Coconut Creek Boulevard, Coconut Creek, 33066
Mon-Wed: 10am - 8pm, Thurs-Sun: 10am - 6pm - Northwest Regional Library
3151 N University Drive, Coral Springs, 33065
Mon-Wed: 10am - 8pm, Thurs-Sun: 10am - 6pm - South Regional/Broward County Library
7300 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, 33024
Mon-Wed: 10am - 8pm, Thurs-Sun: 10am - 6pm - Southwest Regional Library
16835 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines, 33331
Mon-Wed: 10am - 8pm, Thurs-Sun: 10am - 6pm - West Regional Library
8601 W. Broward Boulevard, Plantation, 33324
Mon-Wed: 10am - 8pm, Thurs-Sun: 10am - 6pm
Broward County Parks:
Daily, 9am-5pm
- Brian Piccolo Park
9501 Sheridan Street, Cooper City, 33024 - Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium
3700 NW 11 Place, Lauderhill, 33311 - Markham Park
16001 W. State Rd. 84, Sunrise, 33326 - Tradewinds Park & Stables
3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek, 33066 - T.Y. Park
3300 N. Park Road, Hollywood, 33021
