Latin American Community Unites to Support Relief Efforts in Quake Ravaged El Salvador
Kelli D. Esters
Issue date: 2/22/01 Section: City
“I’m involved in every way I can,” Vasquez said.
“This community really unites when disaster strikes,” said Judy Veloz, 25, of Northwest who came to the party with Vasquez. “If it impacts one person, it impacts everyone else.”
Veloz works at the Latin American Youth Center where the young people raised $1,000 for the relief efforts. “It’s our responsibility to help each other,” Veloz said.
Another partyer, Marta Urquilla, president of El Salvador Americans said there has been a question as to whether the younger generation was getting involved in the relief efforts.
“I think it’s great and important that younger [people] get involved in the cause,” Urquilla said.
Ted G. Loza, Latino Liaison for Councilman Jim Graham, showed his support by coming to the party. He said that on the same night of the first earthquake, St. Gabriel Church at 26 Grant Circle began organizing relief efforts. Since that night, the church has raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Loza said there are efforts being made in the District to adopt a city in El Salvador and concentrate on rebuilding that particular city.
“People have come here from El Salvador, from hardships,” Loza said. He said that obstacles such as war, economic downfall, earthquakes and hurricanes brought Salvadorans to the United States. “That area has been struck with one [disaster] after another, and the community here knows what it’s like to be in need and is quick to give.”
E-mail Kelli D. Esters at kdesters@howard.edu.
“This community really unites when disaster strikes,” said Judy Veloz, 25, of Northwest who came to the party with Vasquez. “If it impacts one person, it impacts everyone else.”
Veloz works at the Latin American Youth Center where the young people raised $1,000 for the relief efforts. “It’s our responsibility to help each other,” Veloz said.
Another partyer, Marta Urquilla, president of El Salvador Americans said there has been a question as to whether the younger generation was getting involved in the relief efforts.
“I think it’s great and important that younger [people] get involved in the cause,” Urquilla said.
Ted G. Loza, Latino Liaison for Councilman Jim Graham, showed his support by coming to the party. He said that on the same night of the first earthquake, St. Gabriel Church at 26 Grant Circle began organizing relief efforts. Since that night, the church has raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Loza said there are efforts being made in the District to adopt a city in El Salvador and concentrate on rebuilding that particular city.
“People have come here from El Salvador, from hardships,” Loza said. He said that obstacles such as war, economic downfall, earthquakes and hurricanes brought Salvadorans to the United States. “That area has been struck with one [disaster] after another, and the community here knows what it’s like to be in need and is quick to give.”
E-mail Kelli D. Esters at kdesters@howard.edu.
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