By Daniela Ron
As you all are aware, Ecuador was struck with a 7.8-magnitude earthquake. The powerful Earthquake killed at least 570 people, 163 are still missing and as many as 2,500 were injured.
With such tragedy, there are numerous small cities with over 80% destruction to which limited assistance has been provided, such as Jama, El Matal, La Division, Don Juan, Canoa, Camarones, and Briceño
YellowPepper has a special bond to Ecuador as it started its Latin American operation there in 2006 and it has now grown to a 20-person operation in Quito. In an effort to give back to the country that has given us so much, YellowPepper is coordinating with the Miami Tech scene and beyond to assist Ecuador in these hard times.
Our mission as YellowPepper is to contribute to reconstruction of these vibrant cities through supplies and monetary aid. With the help of logistics of the Consulate General of Ecuador in Miami, we will be sending all of this aid directly to the ‘ Taller del Cielo”.
I, as an Ecuadorean-born, personally got in contact with several organizations and concluded that Taller del Cielo, a church located in Quito would be the best choice to distribute the donations due to their various connections. The organization already has all the logistics from to take all donations by helicopters to these small towns.
We will receive video and photographs of all of our aid donated directly to the affected towns. The images I received of these towns (see photo of Jama above) are truly heartbreaking; they are in severe devastation and have asked for a lot of help. Our employees have already raised the first $2,500 of matching funds; we have brought on MxHero, Pinta and Isofruit as partners.
This is the link for readers to be able to support and contribute in this great effort is:
https://www.gofundme.com/EcuadorEarthquakeM
Our hope is other Miami Tech Communities also join this effort.
Daniela Ron is office manager US / public relations for YellowPepper based in Wynwood.