Omaha Donations for Mexican Earthquake Victims

“I was deputy commander of the fire department and I had to rescue the lifeless bodies of the 36 deceased,” says Tony Vega, owner of Plaza Latina on South 24th Street. According to Vega, the earthquake that struck Mexico in 1985 devastated his hometown of Guzman, Jalisco and it is something that truly impacted his life.
Vega, who has also participated in various operations in Mexico as a rescuer and paramedic during natural disasters, decided to join his friend Christian Espinosa Torres so they could send donations from Omaha to the earthquake victims in Mexico.
Torres, says that he also lived through the 1985 earthquake in Mexico. “I lived in Tlatelolco one of the most devastated areas in the earthquake that year,” says Torres, adding “my family and I were not able to return after the earthquake in the morning. The building behind where we lived had collapsed and many people were trapped.” Unlike many people who did not have a place to turn, Torres said his family was fortunate enough to stay at his grandmother’s house which remained intact after the earthquake. “Since that September 19, 1985, I understood how fortunate I was and how people suffered,” says Torres. “When I found out about the earthquake I felt powerless because I couldn’t be there to help,” says Torres, adding “I contacted friends to see how we could help.”
Before long Vega and Torres were joined by Abiut Acros, Liz Codina and Luis Gonzalez, Omaha residents who also have roots in Mexico.
Vega says his storefront on South 24th Street was strategically chosen as the donation center for this project because of its popular location. Vega and Arcos quickly set up a donation table and signs and encouraged customers and residents of South Omaha to donated the items needed most, including medicine and medical supplies and construction tools.
Torres and Codina organized the logistics of the transportation and delivery in Mexico. With the cooperation of the Omaha Delta Airlines station, Codina and Gonzalez were able to transport nine boxes of cargo all the way to Mexico City via plane. Torres’ father, Jorge Espinosa, a resident of Mexico City greeted the pair at the airport and was able to help the team take half of the items to a donation center sponsored by Academia Borussia.
Gonzalez and his family members were able to escort the other half of donations to Malinalco, State of Mexico. “I personally acquired ropes, gloves, face covers, lamps and mechanical stethoscopes to detect sounds under the rubble,” says Vega, adding “I was very excited to see the photo of the volunteers in Malinalco using these items!”
“The most difficult thing is to get the resources to those who need it,” says Vega. The business owner says that sometimes people are overcome with enthusiasm and want to help, but it is important to coordinate first.  “For those who want to organize a food and clothing collection, first secure the logistics of transportation and chose the destination and then set your goals,” says Vega.
The team of volunteers that organized the first round of Omaha donations for Mexico is already busy collecting items for a second trip, this time in partnership with the Consulate of Mexico and the addition of Brenda Cazares Zerf, a local community volunteer. Werner Enterprises has donated a trailer to the group that will be filled with donations from Omaha residents and businesses. The trailer is scheduled to drive down to Mexico after it is filled.
The team is asking for donations including: leather palm construction gloves, face masks, helmets, pick axes, generators, construction vests, buckets, mallets and shovels. Other donations being accepted include new clothes with tags for men, women and children, toys, diapers and camping tents.
The team is accepting donations through Sunday, October 8th at all three of the Nuestra Familia supermarkets located at 2900 Leavenworth Street, 3548 Q Street and 1826 Vinton Street. Donations can also be dropped off at State Farm office located on 639 N 98th St or La Plaza Latina located at 4938 S 24th St.
For more information visit Fuerza Mexico Omaha on Facebook or call 402-660-0702.