Utica Woman Collecting Donations to Help Earthquake Victims in Colombia | News
UTICA, N.Y. — For Ingrid Quiceno, the devastation in Colombia is more than a headline; it’s happening in the country she calls home.
“I love Colombia. I love Utica because you gave me a welcome…but I will always be Colombian…My entire family is in Colombia. My friends are in Colombia,” Quiceno said.
Western Colombia was hit with a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake, causing mass destruction and displacement.
“A lot of people lost their homes, and if they didn’t lose their home, they lost everything inside of their home…It has been a catastrophe; we want to help them and assist as much as we can here,” Quiceno said.
Quiceno is the founder of the Utica Empowerment Association, and now the group is collecting donations to send to people affected by the earthquake.
Non-perishable food, hygiene items and cleanup supplies are all in high demand.
“We have contributed so much, and right now, we are just asking for solidarity to help us help our families back there,” Quiceno said.
Donations can be dropped off at 1404 Whitesboro Street in Utica, Aug. 15-16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Quiceno says the community has already started coming together to help.
“We cannot just sit and watch our country suffer and do nothing,” she said.
The Utica Empowerment Association isn’t doing it alone.
Compassion Coalition, the Community Development Center and local food banks have also offered their support.
Quiceno said her connections through years of community work helped get the donation drive up and running quickly.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has also warned New Yorkers to be aware of scams involving earthquake relief.
Quiceno said her group is working directly with officials and organizations to get the donations to Colombia.
“The Senator and Assemblywoman in Queens are from Colombia, and they are diligently working with us, and the Colombian American Police Association is also helping us to deliver the items from New York City to Colombia,” Quiceno said.
For Ingrid Quiceno, the devastation in Colombia is more than a headline; it’s happening in the country she calls home.