Thinking of Clemente during relief efforts to Venezuela

Thoughts of Clemente during relief efforts to Venezuela.

Inspired by the footsteps of Roberto Clemente's rescue efforts to Nicaragua almost 28 years ago, a group of helpers from the Major Leagues (Ayuda de Grandes Ligas) will travel to Venezuela at the end of the month to bring supplies to the thousands of needy people. "Roberto Clemente started it and we're going to continue with it", said Major League baseball player Carlos Baerga, who is one of the several who will travel to Venezuela to help. The help will be taken by the very hands of Puerto Rican baseball players which include Baerga, Jose Rosado and Candido Maldonado. The trip will also be made by Luis Clemente, son of Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente. "Mom became a little nervous, but the trip is worth it", said Luis Roberto Clemente. It's understandable for Vera Clemente's fear because of tragic accident which strangely occurred 27 years ago this month.

Ayuda de Grandes Ligas is a group organized by Carlos Delgado, Toronto's Blue Jays first baseman, that brings Major Leagues players together to offer help in this types of catastrophes. "We want to channel help through us. We want to be the filter of help.", said Delgado in a press conference. Ayuda de Grandes Ligas joined Coca Cola of Puerto Rico bringing help when hurricane Georges hit the Island last year.

Sams Supermarkets and Coca Cola from Puerto Rico has also joined the efforts offering supplies, food, water and clothing. It is said that what is needed most in Venezuela is medicine.

When arrived in Venezuela, the Ayuda de Grandes Ligas will meet up with fellow Major League players from Venezuela like Ozzie Guillen, Edguardo Alfonso and Andres Galarraga.

The tragic event began on December 15th with torrential rain which caused an avalanche of mud, water and boulders to crash down a mountain and into Caracas, Venezuela. Mudslides and floods has killed several thousands and is expected that number to reach near the 30,000's. The amount of damage is undetermined because of the mass destruction this natural disaster has created. Many children can't find their parents and are in shelters. Many are roaming the streets, shocked, looking for any remains of what they used to call home. Many still can't comprehend what has happened. It was just a couple days of heavy rain, nothing all that unusual, they say.

Yet the downpours caused the earth to give way and many communities lost their homes and worst of all their lives.

Venezuelan Relief Aid Contacts:
There is a desperate need for the following items:

Money
Canned Foods
Blankets, Mats
Clothing (Children and Adults)
Soap, Personal hygiene products
Surgical Masks, Gauge, Cotton
Scabicide, Anti-pruritic

New York:
Consulate General of Venezuela
7 East 51st Street
New York, NY 10022

Americares
1-800-486-HELP
English or Spanish

Florida:
Catholic Charities, Venezuela Relief
9401 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33138
1-305-754-2444

American Red Cross, International
Response Fund
335 Southwest 27th Avenue
Miami, FL 33135

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