Community in L.A. Mobilizes to Support Venezuelan Earthquake Victims

Standing outside her restaurant in downtown L.A., Kelly Montana held onto photos of her parents, visibly emotional. This marks the longest period Montana has been without contact with them. She typically speaks with her parents “all day, every day,” even from thousands of miles away in La Guaira, Venezuela. However, following two powerful earthquakes west of Caracas on June 24, communication was severed.

Montana’s immediate response was to transform her restaurant into a donation center. Her parents, vacationing in La Guaira during the quakes, are among over 40,600 people still missing, according to a digital database for missing persons.

The earthquakes resulted in an initial death toll of 600, which has since escalated to an estimated 2,200. Montana organized her restaurant as a hub for donations. Volunteers, like Lia Saba and her daughter Beverly Arbiz, and Alecia Negron, sorted and boxed contributions ranging from sanitary items to nonperishable food.

Montana opened Full Arepas last year, seeking to bring a piece of Venezuela to Los Angeles. Outside the restaurant, volunteers diligently packed supplies into boxes that are planned to be transported to Miami and then Venezuela by Olarte Transport. Andrea Casanova, another volunteer, shared her grandfather’s harrowing survival story from the quakes.

Los Angeles hosts 6,770 Venezuelans, according to the Los Angeles Almanac. Many, like Montana and Casanova, have families affected by the crisis. In Long Beach, Nova Bakery joined the aid efforts, collecting sanitation items and first aid supplies. Pierina Barboza, the owner, emphasized the importance of unity in overcoming the disaster.

Despite the restaurant wrapping up collections earlier, individuals like Alviany Dominguez continued to donate goods. Dominguez, originally from Venezuela’s Zulia state, highlighted the urgent need for help.

Barboza aimed to continue aid efforts through social media, underscoring the importance of collective support. In Pasadena, Amara Cafe owner Amara Barroeta pledged a significant portion of her profits to relief efforts. Her cafe offered traditional Venezuelan foods that resonated with memories for her patrons.

Amara Cafe not only provided nourishment but also a space for the Venezuelan community to process the tragedy together. The donation drive at Full Arepas continued into Wednesday, though Montana’s parents were still unaccounted for.

Search missions in La Guaira persist, even as efforts gradually shift towards recovery. Montana remains hopeful about reuniting with her parents, expressing determination to find them.