East Hampton Teacher, Locals Join Forces to Help Those Left Homeless By Ecuador Earthquake

EAST HAMPTON - In times of devastating world events, the East Hampton community reaches out across the miles to help those in dire need.

To that end, a concern, "Music for Ecuador Earthquake Relief" will be held Wednesday at Stephen Talkhouse, located at 161 Main Street in Amagansett, beginning at 6 p.m.; admission is a $20 donation at the door.

The event will feature music by Juliana Nash, Alfredo Merat, Little Head Thinks, Luis Munoz Hits, Mambo Loco, and DJ Chile.

Hot dogs will be sold for $3 or two for $5, and Chinese raffle tickets cost $2, or 6 for $10. A 50/50 raffle cost $5 or five tickets for $20.

According to the evening's emcee, Minerva Perez, the event was conceived and organized by Alexandra McCourt, an ESL teacher in the East Hampton Union Free School District, as well as by Raul Rodriguez.

McCourt said as a teacher, she's worked with the large Ecuadorian population in East Hampton for more than 20 years. "They're wonderful people," she said.

After the earthquake, many students, as well as Rodriguez, her partner, were deeply affected. "They were upset. One student didn't know where her uncle was," she said. "He's since been found but for a few days, he was missing. It's far away, but it's a very real connection."

The Ecuadorian culture, she added, is very loving, a group of individuals who "care deeply about their families. We're far away in physical distance, but not in spirit," she said.

Down the line, McCourt hopes to set up a not for profit and hopefully, get the community and even students involved in rebuilding Pedernales, the town completely leveled by the quake. "It's a resort community, very similar to East Hampton in a lot of ways."

The goal, she said, is to engage the community. "Not to just give money money and say good-bye, but to make a real and lasting difference."

With all eyes on Ecuador right now, Perez said the focus has shifted a bit from providing supplies to "next steps," and on how to provide housing for the more than 20,000 residents who have been rendered homeless by the disaster. "We want to do what we can to help rebuild," she said.

In the worst of times, the East Hampton community shines, Perez said. "The whole community has come together, not just Ecuadorians, but everyone. It's been just fantastic," she said.

The event is not the first outreach in East Hampton after the deadly earthquake rocked Ecuador on April 16, leaving at least 654 dead.

Paul J. Munoz of East Hampton was devastated, and rather than just mourning the tragedy, he sprang into action, heading to Ecuador and help with hand-delivered donations.

He created a GoFundMe account, "Ecuador Earthquake — Every Bit Counts," which has raised $3,240 of its $5,000 goal in a week.

"As an Ecuadorian living abroad I feel the need to help the victims. I will go to the most affected places, those small villages that have the most damages and are the least valued," he wrote.

His goal was to personally deliver all the donations pouring into local churches of his town. He created the GoFundMe to try to collect money from all Ecuadorians abroad and people that want to help those in need.