Some tragedies feel far away until they happen to someone you know. I met my best friend, Oscar, when we both joined the Siena University tennis team, and we've been best friends ever since. My name is Manuela Gomez, and I am a student originally from Colombia, currently studying in the United States. I am organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Oscar Martinez and his family after the devastating earthquake in Venezuela. As Oscar and Samantha are focused on supporting their family and navigating this unimaginable tragedy, I wanted to help by taking one burden off their shoulders.

Oscar and his family are from La Guaira, Venezuela, one of the areas most devastated by the earthquake. On the day of the earthquake, the whole family was together in their apartment, enjoying time with one another. In just a few seconds their apartment building collapsed, taking with it everything they owned, their home, their businesses, and every belonging they had built over a lifetime, as well as the lives of Oscar and Samantha's grandmother, uncle, and cousin.

Although Oscar was out of the country when the earthquake struck, currently a member of the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) tennis team, his family was inside the building. His mother, Betty, underwent surgery on her tibia, fibula, and clavicle, and his cousin also had to undergo surgery. Sadly, not everyone made it out alive.

Sometimes we don't fully understand the magnitude of a tragedy because it feels so far away... until it happens to someone we know. In moments like these, we have to put ourselves in other people's shoes and show empathy, because a catastrophe like this could happen to any of us.

Over the past few days, so many of you have reached out with prayers, messages, and donations. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your generosity has already helped the Martinez family through these first incredibly difficult days. Many people have also asked how they can help if they don't have Zelle. After finally being able to communicate with Oscar and his family, we created this GoFundMe to make donating easier. Every dollar raised will go directly to the Martinez family to help cover medical expenses, temporary housing, food, clothing, other essential daily needs, and rebuilding their lives.