Volunteers with the city of Hartford organized a donation drive outside City Hall on Monday morning to aid victims of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia, causing nearly 300 deaths and destroying homes across the nation.
Donors contributed non-perishable food items, clothing, medical supplies, and flashlights. Organizers stated that many of the volunteers have personal ties to Colombia.
"So after a couple hours of them losing signal, we were all able to connect with our families, our friends," said volunteer Clarissa Heredia. "So luckily, everybody that’s standing here, all of our loved ones are ok, but it’s not the same for other family members that we know."
Colombia's president announced he contacted President Trump over the weekend, requesting the White House suspend tariffs on the country to provide relief to local businesses impacted by the earthquake.
Thousands of residents in Colombia are still in need of support and essential services following the disaster.
