Alex Davis / Photo: Olivar Leite
Alex Davis, manager to a number of fighters on the rosters of the UFC, Strikeforce, and other events, witnessed up close the tragedy that struck the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro over the last few days and caused 381 deaths, among them, as previously reported by GRACIEMAG.com, the mothers of black belts Pablo Popovitch and Felipe Vidal.
Alex lives on a farm in Nova Friburgo, one of the cities worst afflicted.
“We only regained telephone contact today, so soon everyone will see that here in Friburgo things are much worse than imagined. I’m fine, thank God, and my close family are fine too. But several friends and people close to me have died. My son nearly died while trying to help the victims. Many others didn’t have the same luck,” he recounts.
“We need everything here: water, food, clothes… I urge everyone to send aid,” he adds.
Find out how to help:
Petrópolis
Three posts were set up to receive donations of water, mattresses, and cleaning and personal hygiene items in the Itaipava region: Wesleyana Church in Cuiabá Valley, Santa Luzia Church on Estrada das Arcas road, and in downtown Petrópolis, at the Secretaria do Trabalho, Ação Social e Cidadania headquarters (R. Aureliano Coutinho, 81)
Military Police
All the Military Police battalions in Rio de Janeiro will receive donations starting on Thursday (13). The commanders of the battalions recommend donating mineral water, non-perishable foods, and personal hygiene items.
Bus station (Rodoviária)
Novo Rio bus station will receive donations for the Red Cross. Donations will be received on the lower embarkation floor from 9 am to 5 pm.
Viva Rio
The Viva Rio Volunteed program started a drive to collect clothing and maintenance supplies for the Rio de Janeiro mountain region, especially Nova Friburgo, Teresópolis, and Petrópolis. To help, one can make their donations at Viva Rio headquarters (Rua do Russel, 76, Gloria) or by bank deposit to the Viva Rio bank account, Banco do Brasil, agency 1789-8, account 411396-9 and CNPJ: 00343941/0001-28.
Supermarkets and roadways
Pão de Açucar set up collection points in all one hundred of the supermarkets in the group’s network in the state of Rio. Donations can be made at the establishments Pão de Açucar, ABC Compre Bem, Sendas, Extra Supermercados and Assaí. According to the group, donations will be delivered by January 26.
Starting Wednesday, the Federal highway police set up four posts for donations of food and personal hygiene products. They are: BR-116; the Rio-Magé toll booth, and BR-101, at Casimiro de Abreu.
Two more posts, on the Rio-Petrópolis road and Presidente Dutra highways, will function from 8 am to 5 pm. The highway police report that donations will be delivered to the Red Cross, which will distribute them to the victims.
Subway stations
On Friday, Metrô Rio subway system will open collection posts at eleven stations on lines 1 and 2. Water, food, and personal hygiene products can be donated at Carioca, Central, Largo do Machado, Catete, Glória, Ipanema/General Osório, Pavuna, Saens Peña, Botafogo, Nova América/Del Castilho and Siqueira Campos subway stations.
The shopping malls around Rio are also collecting donations:
Bangu Shopping – Rua Fonseca, 240 – Bangu. Tel.: 2430-5130.
Carioca Shopping – Av. Vicente de Carvalho, 909 – Vila da Penha. Tel.: 2430-5120.
Caxias Shopping – Rodovia Washington Luiz, 2895, Duque de Caxias. Tel: 2430-5110
Passeio Shopping – Rua Viúva Dantas 100 – Campo Grande. Tel.: 2414-0003.
Santa Cruz Shopping – Rua Felipe Cardoso 540 – Santa Cruz. Tel.: 2418-9400.
Shopping Grande Rio – Rodovia Presidente Dutra, 4.200 – São João de Meriti. Tel.: 2430-5111
Via Parque Shopping – Av. Ayrton Senna, 3.000 – Barra da Tijuca. Tel.: 2430-5100.
Shopping Leblon – Av. Afrânio de Melo Franco, 290 – Leblon. Tel.: 2430-5122.