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Local cafés aid Colombia
A Nashville café, Alma Viva Café, is donating a portion of its sales to help families affected by a deadly earthquake in Colombia after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Monday.
“A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday.”
Owner Sarah Gallego, who moved from Colombia to Nashville five years ago, said, "Even though we just opened it, it's kind of hard to start a new business. It was the way to help our people because we know that they need it," as the café opened only 12 days earlier.
Gallego said the family would donate 5% of this week's sales to 3 organizations helping people in El Chocó, one of the hardest-hit regions, and she added, "So that's how we decided this week to donate 5% of our sales... for the all the communities and families that are affected by this earthquake."
The café is located at 130 19th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203, and it will donate 5% of all sales through Sunday to earthquake relief efforts in Colombia.
Volunteers sort supplies in Doral
In South Florida, volunteers with Doral-based Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) are sorting supplies before they are sent to people in Colombia after the earthquake struck on Monday.
Volunteer Juan Caicedo said, "We're out here helping Colombia, especially Cali. That's our city," and he added that the group has already donated money to families and friends so they can buy resources there.
About AmazonGEM volunteer Carlos Jara was the first to drop off goods on Wednesday morning, and GEM said it is looking for more volunteers as well as cash donations and camping gear.
Francine De La Rosa, with GEM, said the group is working closely with the Colombian government and that "cash is king," explaining, "We want to buy supplies and goods in Colombia so that we can get them to the hands of the victims more quickly and more efficiently."
Portland café fundraiser for Red Cross
In Portland, Ore., Matta Café is launching a fundraiser for Colombia earthquake relief after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook western Colombia on Monday morning at about 7:30 a.m.
“Monday morning at about 7:30 a.m., a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook western Colombia”
Owner Aura Matta said, "In my life I never heard about something like that in my country," and she described seeing videos of buildings falling down after an email about the quake.
Matta said this week, 10% of sales at Matta Café will be donated to the Red Cross in Colombia for emergency aid such as health resources, access to drinking water, and support in rescue missions.
She said the café is on Northwest Flanders Street, open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the fundraiser lasts through Sunday, August 16, 2026.
