Watching the devastation in Venezuela has prompted dozens of people throughout the Bay Area to spring into action to donate relief supplies.
On Saturday, there was a donation drive at Arepas Latin Cuisine, a Venezuelan restaurant with locations in San Francisco and San Jose; many who went to the San Jose location to donate said they have relatives in Venezuela, and they are heartbroken the death toll is rising.
Dorly Lopez’s cousins live in Venezuela, so for her, the mission is personal.
“They have to move. And some fear there is going to be a tsunami,” she said.
Lopez stopped at the restaurant with full arms and a heavy heart.
“We want to help. we see the disaster in Venezuela we are heartbroken,” she said.
Lopez was among many others who were dropping off sleeping pads, clothing, water, first aid kits and diapers at the restaurant.
There were so many donations that employees had to stuff the items into a closet and a van.
Not only is Arepas collecting supplies, but the restaurant is also donating a portion of the profits from meals served here to relief efforts in Venezuela.
For Marianny Mata, watching the devastation from the quake has been especially painful.
“I was born and raised in Venezuela and my family lives there,” she said.
Mata worries about those close to her.
“My godmother… her uncle is missing. He’s been missing and they still haven’t found him,” she said.
A video from Caracas captured the moment buildings collapsed following two back-to-back magnitude seven plus quakes, prompting the Arepas restaurant in San Francisco to also collect supplies for families in need.
“It made me feel horrible made me feel responsible. I just really need to do something,” restaurant owner Joanna Torres said.
As the frantic search for survivors continues in Venezuela, more than four thousand miles away people in the Bay Area are answering the call to help.
Medical, baby supplies and nonperishable food were top priorities.
The first shipment of donations was expected to head to the Red Cross in Caracas on Tuesday.