Nosotros estamos aqui para ustedes, Ecuador!

Yesterday, on the steps at city hall, I joined Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Consul General of Ecuador Jorge Lopez, and Maritza Martinez, Flor Gonzalez, and Nelson Santana--all commissioners on the Plainfield Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs (PACHA)--and dozens of others as Plainfield responded to the tragedy in Ecuador with a relief event at city hall.  

Mayor Mapp with Consul General Jorge Lopez.

Organized by Maritza (who is herself Ecuadorian), several organizations, including El Centro Hispanoamericano and the Latin American Coalition, along with dozens of businesses, as well as residents, donated food, water, clothes, toiletries, and other goods, which were brought to city hall to be donated to the victims of the earthquake. City staff and members of the city's boards and commissions (such as Charles McRae of the Zoning Board of Adjustment) brought crates of water and other non-perishables to be loaded onto the container trucks (I counted at least four) which were being filled yesterday. 

PACHA: Maritza, Flor, Nelson, Mayor Mapp, Charles McRae

The relief effort continues today until 7:00 pm. Please bring what you can to assist. There are other events going on around the state as organizations come to the aid of this devastated country. It was wonderful to see so many folks come out to aid our brothers and sisters. Many of my students are Ecuadorian, and are helping with relief efforts in their communities here in New Jersey.

As I stated in my brief remarks, "Nosotros estamos aqui para ustedes, Ecuador!"