Watsonville Register Pajaronian Posted: Thursday, Aug 23rd, 2007 BY: TODD GUILD
Bill Cane has spent more than three decades with his nonprofit group, called If.
The Watsonville-based group has bought land and built houses for poor families in Guatemala, campaigned for workers' rights in Watsonville and sent food to indigenous people in rural Mexico. Now, after a massive earthquake rocked Peru, his organization is ramping up to help again. "The damage is massive," said Cane, the executive director of If, and a retired Catholic priest. "And the rebuilding is going to be massive."
If has been providing aid to Peru since the late '70s, when Cane traveled to Lima for a conference. Since then, the organization has helped set up recycling, garbage pickup, composting programs and water systems there. If recently sent $3,500 in donations, and expects to receive another $1,000 soon.
In September, Cane will host a nine-course Peruvian feast, and the proceeds from the meal will help the earthquake victims.
Consuelo Alba-Speyer can relate to the Peruvian earthquake victims—she lived through a similar 8.0 quake in Mexico City in 1985. "The crisis is not over," said Alba-Speyer. "Peruvians need strategic support to rebuild their lives." Alba-Speyer and her husband John own Alma Gifts and Culture, a gift shop and art gallery at 1705 Mission St. On Friday, they plan to donate 100 percent of their profits to the earthquake victims. "We want to do what we can to help," said John Speyer. "It's important to us because we're all interconnected."
The magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit southern Peru Aug. 15, flattening most of the coastal towns of Pisco, Ica and Chincha, where many structures are made from adobe bricks. More than 500 people were killed, and more than 1,000 people were injured. Scores of homes were destroyed, leaving more than 100,000 people without a place to live, as they face one of the coldest winters in recent memory.
Blankets and fresh water are especially needed, said Cane.
For information on Alma Gifts and Culture, call 425-2562.
For information on the Sept. 15 Peruvian dinner, e-mail Bill Cane at bcane@baymoon.com.