More than two months have passed since the DANA—considered the worst cold drop of the century—left its devastating mark on several towns in the Valencian Community. Although time has passed, the needs of many affected families and communities remain urgent and show that there is still work to be done to rebuild what was lost and return to normalcy.
With all the contributions we received at Workout Events through the charity campaign, this Christmas we’ve been able to turn that generosity into direct aid to provide support and hope to two families affected by the disaster. Today we want to share their stories.
The Story of AR, a Resident of Catarroja
AR is an 80-year-old woman who lived in her ground-floor apartment in Catarroja. She lost everything when the DANA hit: furniture, personal belongings, her car, and her scooter, which was essential for getting around, since she has limited mobility and an 85% disability.
Since the disaster, AR has moved in with her daughter, whose home lacks an elevator, which currently prevents her from going outside.
After learning about her situation, we at Workout knew exactly what to do and decided to allocate part of the donations to improving her quality of life. AR expressed her gratitude to us in a deeply moving message, explaining that she will use “this gift from the Three Kings” to rebuild her home.
AV’s thank-you letter from Alfafar
AV is in her eighties and is facing an equally difficult situation. The floods destroyed her home and her belongings, forcing her to move into her son’s apartment.
After receiving assistance from the charity campaign, her son sent us a deeply moving letter. We’re sharing part of it below:
For these two families, solidarity has become a helping hand that is helping them get through this difficult time as best they can.
Hot meals in the affected areas
In the days immediately following the disaster, the towns in Valencia devastated by the DANA were in utter chaos: volunteers were clearing mud from the streets and ground-floor apartments, while many families were still without water or electricity.
For this reason, one-third of the donations received through our campaign were allocated to support the Catering Business Association (AEC) and Sabors Catering, which joined forces to cook and deliver hot meals to anyone in need.
For our part, at Workout, we continue to believe in the power of community. In addition to thanking Workout’s employees and friends for their personal contributions, we’d like to mention: La Gabana Restaurant, BoccnDivino Restaurant, La Propaganda Restaurant, Benow Partners, and Economical Auditores.
And a huge thank you to AR and AV for being the best examples of resilience.
