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Doc seeks tents for homeless Peruvians

Quake destroyed 32,000 homes

John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 25, 2007 at midnight

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Denver chiropractor Dr. Steven Schwartz last year fulfilled a long-held wish to visit Peru. He had the time of his life.

"I really connected with the people," Schwartz said Monday.

So when a devastating earthquake hit Peru on Aug. 15, Schwartz tried to think of what he could do to help.

The answer came in a single word: tents.

Schwartz has teamed up with New Earth, a nonprofit in Los Angeles that has set a goal of collecting 4,000 tents by Oct. 15 to provide shelter for homeless Peruvians. He hopes to collect a similar amount in Colorado and accompany the shipment to Peru.

The quake killed 540 people and destroyed 16,000 homes in Pisco and another 16,100 in nearby Chincha. Another 4,053 homes were seriously damaged.

"These people need a lot of help," said Schwartz, who is also soliciting funds to help pay for transporting the tents.

He figures that with outdoor recreation so popular in the state, a fair number of Coloradans will have an extra tent or two they can spare for needy Peruvians.

"Larger tents would be great; however, any tent will do," he said.

Donation information can be found on Schwartz' Web site: .

Extent of the quake

The earthquake that hit Peru on Aug. 15 took a devastating toll:

540 people were killed.

32,100 homes in the towns of Pisco and Chincha were destroyed.

4,053 homes were seriously damaged.

How to help

Information on how to donate is available on Dr. Steven Schwartz's Web site:

or 303-954-5291