Some people will be home for Christmas. Others may not have a home to go back to.
On Wednesday, a Manitoba businessman is leading a group of volunteers back to El Salvador, to see how they can help after Hurricane Ida destroyed homes and claimed lives.
"We are going to be taking some very basic things like blankets and quilts with us on Wednesday to distribute in the community," said Ray Loewen in Altona.
"Once we have assessed the need, we will make arrangements to buy as many of the needed items as possible in El Salvador," said Loewen, who founded Build a Village charity more than five years ago.
It's built more than 250 homes in San Nicolas, La Linea, Aqua Zarca, San Jose, Torolla and Jardines De Colon following back-to-back earthquakes that devastated the region in 2001.
Now, some of those homes have been destroyed in the hurricane and its aftermath.
"The initial word out of La Linea is that Hurricane Ida caused a lot of damage -- not from the winds but from the 300 millimetres of rain that fell in just over three hours -- a total of four people were killed, 64 homes were totally destroyed as was the 'Manitoba Chicken Ranch'," the farm that Manitobans provided the start up funding for, as well as many other homes, businesses, churches suffered extensive damage as well, Loewen said.
"Many people in places like La Linea... lost everything -- and they did not have many material possessions to start with," Loewen said.
"If people would like to help rebuild homes and lives, we would ensure their money is put to good use," he said. Build a Village is 100 per cent volunteer run, with donations going directly to the work in El Salvador, said Loewen.
"We try to buy most items in (that) country so that we support the local economy as much as possible and that's what we will be doing again this time," he said.
Cheques for Build a Village can be mailed to Box 1144, Altona, Man., R0G 0B0 and charitable tax receipts will be issued.
Source: winnipegfreepress.com
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