Relief Agencies Appeal for Guadalajara Survivors

San Diego County relief agencies are working to provide aid--ranging fromblankets to cash--for victims of the underground gas explosions that last week devastated large portions of Guadalajara.

“These are people in need, and their need is urgent,” said Anna Ryan, a volunteer with World SHARE, a nonprofit volunteer organization. “The more we can do to help now, the (fewer) health problems we’ll be looking at down the line.”

To accomplish their goal, World SHARE volunteers will run a blanket drive through May 13, which they hope will reap thousands of donations.

“With so many people displaced, obviously we want as many as we can get,” Ryan said.

Other efforts taking place throughout San Diego County include a fund-raising drive by World Emergency Relief, a nonprofit disaster relief agency.

“We’re emphasizing bottled water and baby food donations,” said Rick Owsley, executive vice president for that group. “Those are the top priorities that we’ve been given by the Mexican consulate.”

The Carlsbad-based organization will use cash donations and draw on pledges from a pair of national airlines to ship clothing, food, medical supplies and other goods to an estimated 10,000 survivors of the April 22 explosions that left more than 200 people dead.

Meanwhile, the Chicano Federation of San Diego County has organized similar aid efforts and is asking San Diegans to donate clothing and canned food, federation member Kelly Greason said. Donations can be delivered to 610 22nd St. in San Diego.

Blankets can be dropped off at the World SHARE Warehouse at 3350 E Street in San Diego or at St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores in El Cajon, Escondido, San Ysidro and San Diego, Ryan said. Cash donations in lieu of blankets should be marked “Guadalajara Aid” and can be sent to World Share, 3350 E St., San Diego CA 92102.

World Emergency Relief has asked that cash donations be sent to P.O. Box 1518, Carlsbad, 92018. Businesses may call the agency at 434-4900 to arrange for their donations of clothing, blankets, medical supplies and other goods.