Supplies, messages of support for Guatemala

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - From supplies to messages of support, Houstonians are coming together to help the victims of Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala.

Guatemala Restaurant near Hillcroft and Richmond avenues in Houston is doubling as a donation collection site. The restaurant is not accepting monetary donations -- only items like hygiene products, baby formula and diapers, and cases of water to send to the affected areas.

The volcano's eruption is responsible for killing at least 75 people. Nearly 200 people are still missing and the death toll is expected rise. 

"I couldn’t handle seeing all the images that were running through the news," said Ingrid Pastor, whose father owns Guatemala Restaurant. Her family is from Guatemala but she says, fortunately, her loved ones there were not directly impacted by the disaster.

If people want to make monetary donations, the Consulate General of Guatemala in Houston is directing people to Red Cross of Guatemala.

Ricardo Montes, the Consul General of Guatemala in Houston says the consulate is not accepting any type of donations. Instead, he is directly people to donate to the Red Cross of Guatemala. 

Montes adds those who want to work directly with the Guatemala government can contact the Ministry of External Affairs at cooperacion@minex.gob.gt

Meanwhile, Pastor says her family's restaurant will continue to accept supplies through Friday. Then, they'll work with a local shipping company to send the goods to Guatemala.