When the earthquake struck Pereira, John López wasn’t thinking about competitions. The international spinning top champion left everything behind to join the rescue effort, spending the following days helping search for survivors alongside firefighters and volunteers.
In Pereira, John is known for his skill with a spinning top. But after the earthquake, he became one of hundreds of community members who immediately stepped forward to help.
“I dropped everything. I didn’t care about anything else,” he says. “I do it all out of love.”
For days, John worked alongside local search-and-rescue teams, helping clear debris and rescue people trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Like many volunteers, he spent long days with little sleep, driven by a determination to help his community through the disaster.
John’s story reflects what’s happening across the response in Colombia. Firefighters, volunteers, neighbors, and local organizations have worked side by side since the first hours after the earthquake, each contributing in different ways.
Families Waiting to Go Home
While search-and-rescue efforts continue, many families remain unable to return home after buildings were damaged or declared unsafe. Across affected communities, parks and open spaces have become temporary shelters where families wait for safety inspections and the chance to return. For many, the earthquake has turned everyday routines into uncertainty, with nights spent outdoors and only essential belongings close at hand.
All Hands & Hearts is working alongside local partners and community leaders to help meet the moment: delivering emergency tents, mattresses, food, and other essential supplies to displaced families, and supporting community kitchens that are preparing meals for displaced families, volunteers, and first responders.
Supporting Those Already Leading the Response
Recovery is driven by local communities. As needs continue to evolve, All Hands & Hearts remains on the ground, working alongside local organizations to identify where assistance is needed most and supporting the people leading the response with the tools, equipment, and resources they need to keep serving their neighbors.
By providing emergency shelter, food, and essential supplies, and backing the community members already doing the work, All Hands & Hearts is helping families find safety and stability as they take their first steps toward rebuilding.
Make a Difference
We’re just at the beginning of this response, and the need is growing. Your support allows us to continue showing up by working alongside communities, supporting local efforts, and doing everything we can in the coming weeks to help families recover.
Thank you for your support.
