660
4,000
15
7.8
6.2
100,000

These are so much more than just numbers...

April 16th, 2016, Ecuador was hit with a massive 7.8 earthquake that left an incredibly resilient yet humble community of people in ruins. Today, 660 of those people are declared dead--leaving over 4000 injured and over 15 still missing. Three days later, a 6.2 aftershock hit Ecuador again. Until today, tremors are still ravaging the beautiful country that brought us world wonders like the Galapagos Islands, Amazon rainforests, and your morning cup of coffee. It is estimated that over 100,000 Ecuadorians (and counting) are negatively affected, today.

Estimados amigos,
My name is Luis Calderon, a functional analyst working in Costco IS. I moved to the US in 1997 from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and started what would be my fulfilling career with Costco Wholesale at a warehouse in Florida. I set up this GoFundMe page to help take care of my first home, in my new home in Issaquah, Washington...now working at the Costco Headquarters. 

I’ve seen the unfiltered pictures. I’ve watched the personal videos. The images broadcast on television and on social media sites don’t accurately represent the pure devastation my home country has felt. Take my word for it.

True to my culture, many childhood friends in Ecuador are volunteering and exhausting their time and energy to help those affected by the massive quakes. If I had it my way, I would be with them helping the cause. Unfortunately, distance makes things harder. But like my friends back home, the survivors, and those lost, I’m forever Ecuadorian--resilient and a fighter. Being far away won’t discourage my attempts at trying to help any way I can…

You heard on the video that “the priority is to target resources at where there are signs of life…” and that “aid has not reached some of the worst hit communities.” So, I’m asking for your help to find and create more resources and aid, and to help mobilize those relief essentials to more troubled areas in Ecuador.

50% of your contribution will help with the Ecuador Water Relief campaign, an organization devoted to distributing water across cities and towns affected by the quakes that began hitting my homeland on the 16th. The other 50% will sustain many relief efforts my friends are guiding in Ecuador:
- Creating wellness packages with food, toiletries, and other everyday essentials
- Purchasing gas for transportation to get from various locations that still need help with other relief activities like search and rescue
- Providing security to trucks delivering rations for survival
- Finding materials to build caskets for the 570 who have died (a number still climbing)

Please check out the work my good friends in Ecuador are doing below. If you feel compelled to donate, anything helps. My people and I are incredibly grateful for your contribution however big or small.

Les saluda atentamente,
Luis Calderon