MEXICO CITY — In early September 2017, 19-year-old singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes took to social media to spread the word about his campaign for Mexico Earthquake Relief in partnership with the American Red Cross. According to Mendes’ post, the funds raised will be going directly to disaster relief in Mexico. The American Red Cross is working directly with the Mexican Red Cross to determine the best allocation of these funds, which includes supporting requests for the deployment of staff, volunteers and supplies as well as any other requests as needed.
On Instagram, Mendes detailed his experience in Mexico as a first-hand witness of the disaster: “On September 19, while I was in Mexico City preparing for my concert the next day, a powerful earthquake shook the city. At least 275 people have died and many more are injured and left without homes. The scale of the devastation is hard to comprehend… made me want to do whatever I could to help those impacted by this tragedy.” So far, through this campaign for Mexico Earthquake Relief, organized by Mendes and his manager Andrew Gertler, more than $100,000 has been raised on GoFundMe’s Crowdrise platform.
Throughout this giving process, the American Red Cross stands alongside and works closely with the Mexican Red Cross to carry out humanitarian aid and assistance during large emergencies. The Mexican Red Cross groups together teams assisting in search and rescue operations following the deadly 7.1 magnitude earthquake. The states most affected are Morelos, Puebla, Mexico City and the State of Mexico.
Since 1881, the American Red Cross has been dedicated to serving people in need, by sheltering, feeding and providing emotional support to victims of disasters. As a nonprofit organization, the American Red Cross depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. With the startup of Mendes’ campaign for Mexico Earthquake Relief and thousands of individuals getting involved, victims in Mexico are receiving the life-saving help they need to rebuild the community and get back up on their feet.
– Mikaela Frigillana
Photo: Flickr