Fund-raiser planned to help earthquake victims

Jennifer Kho

WESTSIDE -- The earthquake that devastated El Salvador in January also

shook West 19th Street businesses and citywide volunteers into action.

Luis Salazar, owner of Luis Hair Salon on West 19th Street, is

spearheading a fund-raiser from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today in thesalon’s

parking lot to raise money for the El Rescate El Salvador fund, which

will help victims of the Jan. 13 quake.

The event will include haircutting and tortilla eating. Stylists who

work at West 19th Street salons Fita’s Hair Fashions and Marta Hair Salon

-- owned by Salazar’s sister, Marta Barrera -- are donating their

services along with Salazar and his other sister, Sandra Mendez.

El Rescate, which translates into “the rescue,” is a Los-Angeles based

nonprofit organization that attempts to help immigrants and increase

human rights through education and advocacy.

The organization, which will send representatives to today’s event, is

also accepting donations of water filters, first-aid kits, tents and

blankets for the victims of the 7.6 earthquake.

Fita Bolanos, owner of Fita’s Hair Fashions, said she feels compelled

to do what she can to help, in part because she once lived in El

Salvador.

Leti Carino, an employee at Fita’s Hair Fashions, said she also plans

to participate.

“It will help all those people,” Carino said. “We are human and if

someone needs help, whoever they are, it is up to us to help them.”

An instructor at Paul Mitchell The School is expected to be on hand to

cut hair as well, and the school, which opened on Adams Avenue three days

after the quake, is donating T-shirts for the participating stylists.

West 19th Street restaurants, including El Toro Bravo Tortilleria and

Grajenal, and private volunteers have donated food, time and supplies for

the event, Salazar said.

Irma Murrietta, owner of El Toro Bravo Tortilleria, said she will

donate meat, tortillas and salsa.

“I feel bad because people need help,” she said. “I have a lot of

people come to my store and would like to do what I can to help.”

Salazar said he was motivated to organize the event to honor his

friend, Daniel Medina, who died at the end of December after living with

Salazar for nine years.

“Soon after [he died] the earthquake happened,” Salazar said. “I saw

my mother watching TV and crying. I decided I had to do something about

it because I am sharing their pain. These people are going through the

same pain as I was. But at least I got to bury my loved one and some of

them couldn’t even find theirs. This is very emotional and spiritual for

me.”

FYI

The fund-raiser will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today in the

parking lot of Luis Hair Salon, 522 West 19th St., Costa Mesa.

Information: (949) 631-6911.