Boxes of food, clothing, baby supplies and other essentials are being packed in Manotick and will soon begin a journey thousands of kilometres away to communities devastated by the earthquake in Colombia. “There’s people sleeping on the streets, sleeping on the floor, babies with no toys, no diapers, they need everything right now,” said volunteer Ricardo Henriquez. Volunteers spent Sunday sorting and packing donations behind Encanto Cafe after the business put out a call for help earlier this week. “We are very happy because the community in Manotick, Gatineau and Ottawa has been amazing,” said Juanita Botero, whose family owns the cafe. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 10 has killed more than 280 people, injured thousands and left hundreds still missing. Botero says some of her relatives live in one of the hardest-hit areas. Some have lost their homes, while others are still waiting for aid to arrive. “Some small towns in our city and in other cities are very difficult to get to because they don’t have roads to go there, so that’s where we are going,” she said. With support from a foundation in Toronto, the donations are expected to leave Monday and be flown to Colombia. The earthquake also caused extensive damage to Salento, the colourful Colombian town Botero says inspired Encanto Cafe. “It’s destroyed. They don’t have houses anymore,” Botero said. “It’s been very sad because it was a beautiful town, very colourful.” As each box is sealed and stacked, the donations will help replace some of what the earthquake took. “I have some friends that lost their lives, houses and their families as well. It’s been very sad,” said Botero. Along with the boxes of donated supplies, the community has also raised nearly $3,000 to support the relief effort. The donations are expected to leave Manotick on Monday to begin their journey to Colombia.
