‘Outpouring’ of Support for Quake Victims

Only two weeks ago, Bernardo Turnbull, 28, left his family home in Mexico City to start graduate classes in psychology at Chapman College in Orange. But his mind wasn’t on studies Saturday as he volunteered to work all day answering telephones at the Orange County chapter headquarters of the American Red Cross in Santa Ana.

“I’m still shaky,” he said. “I’m working to stay busy so I don’t have time to worry.”

He said that he was “pretty confident” that his family and friends were all right after two earthquakes rocked Mexico City, but he has not been able to get any information about their well-being.

Information on TV, Newspapers

Through maps and pictures in newspapers and on television newscasts, he said, he thinks that his home is about 15 blocks away from the major destruction of buildings.

Turnbull was among 16 volunteers manning eight telephones in the Red Cross’ large, emergency operations center. Volunteers will be answering calls at (714) 835-5381 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day through at least Friday, said Harry Huggins, the Red Cross chapter’s public relations director.

Turnbull said that he was averaging one call every five minutes from people offering money or clothing for the relief effort, inquiring about the welfare of friends and relatives in Mexico or worrying about what to do if such a massive quake happened here.

Acting as a major conduit of donations, the Red Cross was accepting contributions, but it did not have any information on victims of the earthquake. Volunteers instead referred American citizens to the State Department, (202) 653-7959, and Mexican nationals to the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, (213) 624-0349. And those asking about quake safety were told about storing enough bottled water, food and emergency supplies for 72 hours--the time it might take for victims of a major disaster to receive aid.

“We had about 600 calls on Friday and got about $1,200 in donations,” said Sandi Lanting, a Red Cross spokeswoman. “On Thursday, we got $1,500 in donations.”

The figures do not include a $100,000 contribution from the national United Way organization or donations sought by Mexican folk-rock singer Vincente Fernandez, who appealed to some 5,000 fans at his concert Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center to drop some money into one of two collection boxes on their way out.

Monetary Support

“He collected $3,461.54 and 1,001 pesos,” said a jubilant Huggins. “The outpouring of help is just tremendous.”

There was more outpouring of monetary support at the annual La Jamaica street festival in Orange, where the master of ceremonies asked festival-goers to donate money for earthquake relief.

“We do need a lot of money to help them (the earthquake victims),” John Sepulveda told the spectators at the outdoor festival--which normally gives its annual proceeds to the American Red Cross. But the water-cooler donation jugs set up in front of the Friendly Community Center were just for the victims of the Mexican earthquake--a tragedy much on the minds of neighborhood residents. “A lot of people are waiting for news of their families,” Sepulveda said. “I’m sure it has had an effect on people here or (people who) would have come here.”

Families Affected

“A lot of people in this area have families who are affected,” said Jim Silva, president of the Friendly Center, which hosts the festival that annually attracts some 3,000 people.

Meanwhile, in Orange County’s 52 Spanish- and English-language Roman Catholic parishes, Masses were expected to be offered today “in special consideration and concern for those in Mexico City,” said Diocese of Orange spokesman Tom Fuentes. “The prayers of the Roman Catholic community here go out to the earthquake victims.”

Archbishop Tomas Clavel, vicar for Hispanic ministries in Orange County, said that he had contacted priests in the diocese, particularly those offering today’s 100 Masses in Spanish, to ensure that special prayers would be offered today. “In all the Masses, they will pray for the people of Mexico,” he said.

A Private Mass

The archbishop, who has been ill recently, said: “I will say a private Mass myself in my home” for the earthquake victims.

The diocese has also issued a call for donations, Fuentes said. Those wishing to make a contribution were urged by Msgr. Michael P. Driscoll, chancellor of the diocese and vicar for charities, to contact the Office of the Bishop for Catholic Relief Services at Marywood Center in Orange, or Catholic Relief Services in New York.

Clavel, archbishop emeritus of Panama, echoed Driscoll’s appeal to direct contributions through Catholic Relief Services, citing his own experience with aid sent to Panama after an earthquake in 1965. “If it is sent through the church, those who donate can be sure that the people will receive it,” he said.