On Monday, a powerful earthquake struck Colombia’s Pacific region, severely affecting communities in Chocó and Buenaventura.

For many families, what was lost in a matter of moments took years to build: their homes, belongings, memories, and the security of having a place to return to at the end of the day.

These are communities that have already lived for years with inequality, limited infrastructure, and fewer resources than many other parts of Colombia. Now, families who were already facing difficult circumstances are being asked to start over.

For me, this is not a distant tragedy.

My name is Sebastian Palacios, and I am from Chocó, Colombia. I grew up connected to these communities, and some of the people affected are family, friends, neighbors, and people who were part of my childhood.

Seeing what has happened and hearing directly from people on the ground has been heartbreaking. But this campaign is about turning that feeling into something concrete:

food, shelter, essential supplies, construction materials, and direct assistance for families who need help now.

### We already have people on the ground. We already have transportation. Now we need to fill the truck.

I am organizing this effort together with my sister, Maria Fernanda Palacios, my mom Erika Ibargüen and our friends Angy Alvarado, Maria Guerrero, Karen Parra, Don David Parra, Gerardo Florido, Juana Espitia, and Brandon Quintero.

Thanks to Don David Parra, we already have a truck available to transport supplies toward the affected communities.

This means we are not starting from zero.

The transportation network is being organized. People are ready to receive the assistance locally. The communities are already telling us what they need.

What determines how much we can deliver now is how much support we are able to raise.

### Who will receive the assistance?

In Chocó, the assistance will be received by Bertha Camacho, a local community leader who is also someone who helped raise me during my childhood.

Daniela Simanca, Bertha's daughter will help document the arrival and distribution of the assistance so donors can see how the process is being carried out.

In Buenaventura, the assistance will be received by my aunt, Yineth Garcia, together with my cousin Bryant Garcia, who will help document the delivery of supplies there.

These are people we personally know and trust, with direct connections to the communities receiving the assistance.

### The campaign will be coordinated through a foundation

This relief effort will be carried out through the:

Fundación para el Desarrollo Integral Afrodescendiente

The foundation, represented by social leader Frank Collazos, will support the collection and coordination of donations.

People who are in Colombia and prefer to donate physical supplies instead of money can bring them directly to:

Fundación para el Desarrollo Integral Afrodescendiente

Carrera 81 F # 65 A - 18 Sur

Barrio Antonia Santos

Localidad de Bosa

Bogotá, Colombia

### Exactly how will the donations be used?

The affected communities have already begun sending us a list of the items they urgently need

That list is still being completed as families and local leaders continue identifying the damage and their most immediate necessities.

The funds raised through this campaign will be used to purchase items requested by the communities, including:

* Food and essential groceries

* Tents and temporary shelter supplies

* Essential household items

* Construction and repair materials

* Other urgent necessities identified directly by affected families and community leaders

Rather than deciding from a distance what people need, we are working from the requests being sent directly by the communities themselves.

That matters because every dollar should be directed toward an actual need.

### Our goal is to have the first assistance delivered by Wednesday, August 19

The need is happening now.

Families cannot wait several weeks for basic supplies, which is why we are working toward having the collected assistance purchased, transported, and delivered before September 10th, as far as transportation, accessibility, and local conditions allow.

There is already a truck.

There are already people waiting to receive the supplies.

There is already a list of what families need.

Now we need to fill that truck.

Transparency will be part of the entire process

We understand something very important:

When someone gives their money to help another person, they deserve to know where that money went.

For that reason, we will document the relief effort publicly.

We will share updates showing the collection of donations, preparation and purchase of supplies, transportation, and delivery in the affected communities.

This process will be shared through the social media account **@mariafibarguen**, where donors will be able to follow the campaign and see the assistance reaching Chocó and Buenaventura.

The funds raised will be used specifically for the earthquake relief effort described in this campaign and according to the needs communicated by the affected communities.

You do not have to rebuild an entire home to change what happens to one family this week.

One person may help provide food.

Another may help provide a tent.

Another contribution may become construction material.

Someone else may simply share this campaign with ten people and help us reach the person who fills the remaining space on the truck.

Every contribution moves something from a list of needs onto a truck headed toward a family.

If you are able to donate, **please do it today.**

If you cannot donate financially, you can contribute physical supplies in Bogotá or share this campaign with your friends, family, coworkers, organizations, and community.

These are communities that have already endured a great deal.

They should not have to rebuild alone.

Help us fill the truck. Help us reach these families by Wednesday. Help Chocó and Buenaventura begin rebuilding.