Hotes Foundation volunteers rushed to L’Aquila, Italy, in 2009 when more than 300 people were killed, 1,500 injured and 50,000 left homeless after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake. Volunteers knew a lack of food and water could result in thousands of otherwise preventable deaths. Their first mission to Italy helped supply disaster victims with those necessities, but the country still needed the Hotes Foundation’s assistance.
Richard Hotes saw reports of disaster victims dying because they could not get the medical care they needed and he resolved to help. Richard donated several BLU-MED Disaster Response buildings from the Alaska Structures inventory to assist the citizens of L’Aquila. The Italian government awarded medals to Hotes Foundation volunteers in appreciation of their efforts, but Richard and his team do not undertake life-saving missions to earn accolades. Richard Hotes and the Hotes Foundation simply see people in need and resolve to help them any way they can.
For more information on this mission or to learn how to volunteer with the Hotes Foundation, please call (425) 889-5917 or complete our online form.
