The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Ecuador over spring break has put in motion the city’s Hispanic community, including DHS, to gather and send aid to the country.
The Ecuadorian population in Danbury is sizeable and many students have family and friends in the South American country.
Some students, including junior Nathaniel Mariduena, were there during the earthquake, which killed 654 and injured 12,500.
“Being there at the time really was not fun,” he said. “The whole city (Guayaquil) was shut down because of the tragedy that had happened.”
The quake struck on the coast of Ecuador and has caused multiple strong tremors and more than 700 aftershock that have continued throughout the country. Lizbeth Quezada was in Giron when the earthquake hit.
“It was just a tremor to us,” she said. “I was with my family at the time, but we were all safe. But everyone was quite startled because, although they’d felt tremors before, nothing compared to what we experienced that Saturday night.”
Immediately the Ecuadorian community in Danbury rallied to help, and once students returned from Spring Break the Latino Club sprang into action to collect needed items.
The club has teamed up with the Fight Child Hunger Club and Level 4 school counselors to collect items to ship out to shelters and hospitals. Items may be dropped of in the Level 4 office, D371 and D370.
Items requested include: gauze pads, casts, peroxide, bandages, hand sanitizer, Neosporin ointment, elastic bandages, baby bottles, powdered milk, insect repellent, garbage bags, rubbing alcohol, masks, saline solution, water filters, canned food, dried food, diapers, tents, sleeping bags, hygienic kits, portable lamps, batteries, cookware, baby formula and other medicine.
Supplies can also be dropped off at Centro Civico de Great Danbury, 20 West St., Danbury. Call (203) 417-3621 for information.