Select a Language
Church of God in Colombia Holds Blood Drives to Support Earthquake Victims
Bringing Compassion to Earthquake Victims Through Blood Donation and Relief Efforts
On August 10, a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck near San José del Palmar in Chocó, Colombia. The earthquake left approximately 5,000 people dead or injured, with the most severe damage concentrated in western regions near the epicenter. As the Colombian government continued recovery efforts with support from the international community, the Church of God also joined the relief efforts by holding the Worldwide Blood Drive to Give Life through the Love of the Passover in three Colombian cities on August 30.
The three blood drives were held at the Colombian Red Cross National Headquarters in Bogotá, the capital, and at Red Cross branches in Medellín, Antioquia, and Cali, Valle del Cauca, where the earthquake had caused significant casualties. Church members from nearby areas, including Soacha and Bello, also joined the effort, bringing the total number of participants to 440.
Church members gathered at the Red Cross facilities at around 9 a.m. and underwent health screenings before donating blood under the guidance of staff. Lines of donors continued into the afternoon. Angela Johanna Silva Torres, an official at the Colombian Red Cross National Headquarters, expressed her gratitude, saying, “Our blood supplies were critically low, making it difficult to respond to emergencies. The Church of God’s blood drives were a tremendous help. I could truly feel their sincere desire to stand by those in need.” Cindy Yulieth Duarte Velandia, a church member from Bogotá, said, “I was proud to show my son, who came with me, how we can help others and share God’s love through our actions.”
Meanwhile, on August 13 and 16, members of ASEZ, the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group, helped sort and pack relief supplies for areas affected by the earthquake. Approximately 150 volunteers took part over the two days at a relief collection center set up at Nemesio Camacho El Campín Stadium in Bogotá. They helped prepare more than 1,000 bedding kits and approximately 800 food kits containing rice, salt, sugar, cooking oil, pasta, beans, flour, and other essentials so that the supplies could be delivered promptly to disaster-affected residents. Diana Ximena Cano Camacho, an ASEZ member from Bogotá, said, “I volunteered because I wanted to be a source of strength to neighbors struggling in the aftermath of the disaster. I hope those going through such a difficult time because of the earthquake will not lose hope or courage.”
