Acts of Humanity In Valencia

As you have probably seen by now, Valencia experienced devastating floods this past week. The storm arrived Tuesday morning. Warnings didn't come until Tuesday night. Over 200 people are dead. 1900 people are missing. And questions have largely gone unanswered. Yesterday, President Sanchez fled the city after the windows of his SUV were smashed with fists and rocks. It was a proper response to unforgivable negligence by the government, both national and local.

I won't focus on all of that today. I'm here to share what I have heard and witnessed. I didn't have to look for the helpers; they were everywhere, carrying furniture and people. They were shoveling mud and hugging strangers.

In the past few days,

• Farmers came from all over the region to use their equipment to clear streets.
• French bomberos, or firefighters, traveled all the way from France to help with the recovery efforts. Local government officals refused their help. They showed up anyway.
• Each morning, a massive human caravan moves towards the pueblos surrounding Valencia. On Saturday, we walked for 90 minutes to the town where we volunteered. There is no way to reach most of the towns by car. This caravan doesn't stop until after nightfall every day—it’s an endless stream of people.
• Residents in the towns stand on the balconies holding signs that read "Gracias a todos!” Messages of love are also spray painted across broken doors and refrigerators.
• Everywhere in Valencia, you will see people walking the streets with brooms. They are covered from head to toe in mud, after spending every daylight hour pushing mud down streets and out of the first-floor rooms..
• People are taking in dogs, cats, and other pets, caring for them as if they were their own, hoping that an owner will call.
• Citizens are dropping their lives to dedicate time to pack food bags in distribution center, clear water from streets, shovel mud from homes, and carry destroyed items from homes.

Through it all, it has brought the community even closer together. At lunch, many of the volunteers in the towns take a break together. Residents emerge from every direction, offering sandwiches, rice, and coffee. Their eyes are wet with tears; and yet, their smiles find sunlight in the dark of day.

If you wish to help, you can make a donation at www.caritasvalencia.org.
​

​
​Unsubscribe · Preferences · Buy Me a Coffee​