Rescue efforts are ongoing in Venezuela after twin earthquakes devastated the region on June 24. As crews sift through the rubble for survivors, Houston restaurants with ties to the country are doing what they can to help two thousand miles away.
Gusto Gourmet at 3306 Shepherd Dr. is one of them. Yosi and Sandra Sarshalom both hail from Venezuela. The couple opened a Mediterranean restaurant in the country, Mazal Gourmet, in 2000. Eventually, they immigrated to Houston in 2011 and opened Gusto a year later.
In the early years, Gusto leaned more into Yosi’s Syrian-Mediterranean background, but an influx of Venezuelans nudged the restaurant to Sandra’s roots.
“A lot of people came from Venezuela, so we changed the menu because we wanted people to feel at home in the states. That’s how we turned into a Venezuelan restaurant,” Sandra told Chron.
Since then, Gusto has earned critical acclaim, including multiple mentions in the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants list. Now, the Sarshalom’s are levying that reputation into directing aid towards their countrymen back in Venezuela.
According to reports, two major earthquakes, within one minute of each other, struck the north-central part of Venezuela on June 24. The magnitude of each was reportedly among the strongest quakes the country has experienced in more than 100 years. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,900 people have been confirmed killed, more than 10,500 have been injured, and more than 43,000 are reported missing.
Aftershocks from the quakes have also stymied rescue efforts. A Monday aftershock temporarily disrupted rescue operations. Sandra’s niece, who lives in Venezuela, was briefly separated from her children while she was at the mall. All three have since been reunited, but the hours in between were terrifying.
“She was in a shopping mall, the kids were with the grandparents. Luckily they were okay. They were reunited in a few hours,” Sandra said. “Until you communicate with your people, you get really scared because you don’t know what’s happening.”
Gusto is currently accepting donations of medical equipment, money, first aid, infant formula, diapers and medicine. The restaurant is sending these donations to different aid groups that will then distribute them among the people that need them.
“The rescuers are still taking people from the buildings,” Sandra said. “They are still alive 120 hours later.”
Other restaurants with Venezuelan ties are helping too, including the Gypsy Poet. This past Sunday, the pizzeria held a supply drive at its two locations (2404 Austin St. and 1050 Studewood Dr).
And for those who can’t patronize Gusto in-person, Sandra said they are opening the website to monetary donations as well.
“People around us want to help,” Sandra said. “Some people have to work to keep going, but if you want to help, call us.”