Chilean in Canfield mobilizes quake aid

By Elise Franco

The Valley woman helped to organize the 150-family Chilean community in New Castle.

CANFIELD — A Mahoning Valley woman is using her ties in local communities to make a difference in her native Chile.

After hearing of the earthquake that struck Saturday, Paulina Montaldo of Canfield said members of Pittsburgh-based Brother’s Brother Foundation contacted her. The foundation asked for her help to raise awareness and money in the Youngstown area.

“I am very involved in the local Chilean community,” Montaldo said. “At this point, the idea is to get money because the Chilean government hasn’t decided what kind of help they’re going to need from other countries.

“They want to see what they can do on their own once they assess the damages.”

President Michelle Bachelet declared parts of her country catastrophe zones after the reported 8.8-magnitude quake struck at about 3:30 a.m. local time Saturday. Early estimates are that at least 215 people died.

“You can see bridges and older structures that are on the ground,” Montaldo said.

Montaldo, who moved to the United States from Chile nine years ago, said she spoke with Chilean government representatives Saturday evening who said the death toll had reached more than 200.

She said though Chilean structures are built to endure earthquakes, some government officials are estimating astounding damages and demolition costs.

“Chile has a good economy, but we still face the problem that there are some parts of the population that live in poverty,” she said. “Most of the buildings are in pretty good shape because they have these earthquake problems often, so the buildings and the population are prepared.”

Brother’s is a 52-year-old foundation and will be working with partner organizations Adventist Development and Relief Agency based in Silver Spring, Md., and B’nai B’rith International.

The foundation also is planning to send requested pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and other humanitarian relief assistance in the coming days, according to a news release.

Montaldo said it was important for her to be involved with relief efforts because she’s helped to create a strong Chilean community in New Castle, Pa., where she lived until she moved to Canfield three years ago.

“I put the community together in New Castle. It started with five people and now we have about 150 families,” she said. “My wish is to do something with that community here in Ohio.”

She said she hopes bringing relief efforts to the forefront of people’s minds here will help accomplish that.

Brother’s has provided more than $3.4 billion in medical supplies, textbooks, food, seeds and other humanitarian supplies to people around the world in more than 140 countries, according to the news release.

In 2009 BBF sent product contributions to 70 countries including Argentina, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda and Vietnam thanks to the help of gifts from the general public, corporations and the United States government.

Montaldo said anyone wishing to donate to the Chilean earthquake relief efforts can visit www.brothersbrother.org.

efranco@vindy.com