Emily Leverone | On 02, May 2016

On April 16, 2016, Ecuador was hit with a 7.8 earthquake. The death toll is over 500 as of right now and there are more than 2,500 injured.

The earth quake affected parts of Ecuador such as Esmeralda, Manabi, Guayaquil, and Portoviejo. It’s a tragedy that something like an earthquake can destroy so many people’s lives in just one day.

More than hundreds of houses were torn down to the ground, and so many folks have lost their loved ones, including children and parents.

This hurts me on a personal level because my family is Ecuadorian, and I have many family members there. Thankfully, they are shaken but mostly unharmed.

If you want to help Ecuador recover, please donate water and canned foods in Schuetzen Park, North Bergen, through early May. You can also help out by visiting the UNICEF website.