Local nonprofit decides to give back at their Hispanic Heritage Month event

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Its Hispanic Heritage Month and what better way to have the community come together than with a celebration. The Capital District Latinos hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month day event and welcomed anyone in the community to join and immerse themselves in the richness of their cultures.

The event first started off with some welcoming speeches to welcome everyone's Hispanic background. Many families walked around in their traditional clothing and waving their flags. They even stopped for a group photo with all the Hispanic countries together, cheering and chanting out of celebration. 

“We're so far from our countries itself so this is a great opportunity for us to remember everything that we missed from home and reenacted in here,” said Alejandra Martinez, Office Manager for Capital District Latinos.

News10s Tyanna Xavier got the chance to see some of these reenactment dances with the children and the young teens putting on a whole performance for the community to see and appreciate. However, the reason they do it goes beyond just for show.

“It's a way to bring families in our communities together to just remember our values, our traditions, our songs, our foods, and just have an amazing time in the community," said Martinez.

The group focusing on the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month in the Capital Region and also teaming up with the Red Cross to give back to the area.

“50% of Hispanics or Latinos carry type O, which is the universal donor type. So as a board member and as a person engaged in the Latino community, I figured this is a perfect marriage of Hispanic Heritage Month and the need for donations of blood because we are approaching the holiday season when blood donations are critical,” said Dan Irizarry, Board member of the Red Cross of Northeastern New York, and the founder of Capital District Latinos. 

People at the event were able to just walk in and donate blood all under 30 mins. Once done people were given free merch and some even gift cards.

“It's important for the Red Cross to appeal to the Latino community because we are underrepresented in donations. And so, while we have this wonderful gift, we are also not doing our part. So, I'm calling out to our community to step up their contributions,” said Irizarry.

This event was a vibrant day filled with celebrating culture and community but also giving back. The Capital District Latinos say everyone’s welcome, and they hope more people stop by to see what they’re all about.