Southland Residents Reaching Out to Victims of Hurricane Mitch

The Los Angeles region, long a magnet for Central Americans seeking refuge from wars and other human catastrophes, is home to hundreds of thousands of residents whose family members are now suffering the wrath of Hurricane Mitch.

Families are frantically, and often vainly, trying to get word of relatives in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador whose homes and towns may have been destroyed by a hurricane that may have claimed up to 9,000 lives.

Churches, shops and schools throughout Southern California have become makeshift relief centers, collecting food, clothing, medicine and building materials to be airlifted this week.

“I haven’t heard from my relatives since the rains started,” Margarita Cordoba said as she brought cans of coffee and oatmeal to St. Thomas the Apostle Church in the Pico-Union district west of downtown.

Like many bringing in staples, Cordoba said that she has not been able to reach anyone from Yoro, the Honduran city where her parents and brothers live.

“Nobody answers the phone,” she said desperately. “I’ve tried calling everywhere. . . . It’s totally out of contact.”

A steady stream of families, their vehicles loaded with everything from diapers to cereal, arrived Wednesday at the La Curacao furniture store downtown, one of several improvised collection points.

The same was true at Cordoba Electronics in Hollywood, which has turned its warehouse into a collection center for relief supplies. “We’ve had over 600 people bring things in so far,” said employee Sandra Hernandez.

In addition to Central American immigrants, many other Angelenos have come forward to help. “We feel really good about that,” Hernandez said.

Francisca Munoz, a Mexican national, wiped tears from her eyes as she dropped off food and clothing at St. Thomas Church. “It is painful to see what is happening there,” she said. “You really have to be an evil person to not be touched by this tragedy.”

Socorro Serrano, a Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman, said parents and school staffs throughout the district have offered help. A letter will be sent home to parents at all schools today seeking donations of clothing and nonperishable food.

Marlene Wong, the district’s director of mental health services, said children at several central city elementary schools have met with counselors to discuss their worries about relatives in storm-stricken areas.

“Those whose relatives live in the outskirts have had no word,” Wong said.

Pasadena resident Noe Montoya was among the more fortunate. He said that although three of his four brothers and sisters lost their homes and businesses in Progreso, Honduras, a six-hour drive from the capital of Tegucigalpa, they were unharmed and staying with a relative.

“They were crying. They feel terrible, but thank God they are still alive,” he said.

While goods are being collected at schools and storefronts, the Los Angeles-based California Community Foundation and Operation USA have been rounding up large cash contributions. Allan Parachini, a Community Foundation vice president, said more than $25,000 had been raised by Wednesday. The largest single donation was $15,000 from Southern California Edison.

Parachini said the organizations are raising money for reconstruction efforts, intent on avoiding duplication with immediate relief programs run by groups like the Red Cross. He said it is more efficient to buy building materials, generators and other supplies rather than relying on sometimesrandom equipment donations.

“We’re after the higher-end donors,” Parachini said. “It’s important for all of us, of all different means, to recognize we have a common connection between our region and theirs. At this point all of us have to start thinking about [the stricken areas] as part of Southern California.”

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How to Help Victims of Hurricane Mitch Southern Californians can help victims of Hurricane Mitch through a variety of local and national organizations.

The consulates of Nicaragua and Honduras, community groups, churches and businesses are accepting a variety of items, including medicine, canned food, water, clothing and financial donations. Donors can call for specific needs.

* Honduras Consulate, 660 S. Bonnie Brae St., Los Angeles 90057; (213) 483-1244.

* Nicaragua Consulate, accepting donations at Cordoba Electronics, 5120 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90029; (213) 669-1028.

* La Curacao Furniture Store, 1605 W. Olympic Blvd.; (213) 386-4412

* St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1327 Mariposa Ave., Los Angeles 90026 (213) 737-3331.

The following are among organizations accepting financial contributions only. Checks should be marked for “Hurricane Mitch Relief Effort”:

* American Red Cross, 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90057; credit card contributions can be made through (800) 435-7669; in Spanish, (800) 257-7575.

* American Friends Service Committee, through its Pacific Southwest Regional Office at 980 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103; (626) 791-1978.

* Doctors Without Borders, through its West Coast office at 2040 Avenue of the Stars, 4th Floor, Los Angeles 90067; (310) 277-2793 or (888) 392-0392.