After two intense earthquakes in Venezuela in late June, organizations and businesses in the Austin Venezuelan community have come together to support those struggling in the aftermath by preparing donations of non-perishable foods, medical supplies and other essential items.

On June 24, Venezuela experienced back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes just west of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. As of publication, the death toll has reached 3,535, with 16,740 injured and 17,854 left homeless, according to Reuters. 

In 2022, Austin had just under 5,000 Venezuelan residents, according to the 2024 Austin Population Change and Demographic Trends report from the City’s Joint Inclusion committee.

The Austin Venezuelan Association is running donation drives and collecting money in partnership with local businesses to help those affected. Vaco House, a Venezuelan restaurant in Hyde Park, is one of these businesses. 

“I saw that (the Austin Venezuelan Association) were like the first responders,” Vaco House owner Roger Acosta said. ”Since day zero, they (were) committed to helping our country and other people.” 

Vaco House owner, Roger Acosta, poses for a portrait in front of the food truck on Friday, July 3. (Kaitlyn Bedrick)

Acosta said he reached out to the association wanting to make a difference. With the support of Acosta, the Vaco House and other Venezuelan businesses in Austin, the group has assembled 90 pallets of goods to be sent to Venezuela. 

“This was a massive response,” said Elizabeth Gunz, the president of the AVA.

Gunz said the shipments will be sent to Venezuela through an organization called Global Empowerment Mission, a nonprofit that delivers aid to people in need. Many of the pallets are designated for specific places, like nuns’ homes that many families have flocked to and to residents of a seminary that was destroyed.

The support and effort in Austin goes beyond just Venezuelans, Gunz said. Volunteers who have come to help hail from the Philippines, Peru, Colombia and more countries.

A rotating line of customers flow through the Venezuelan food truck, Vaco House, on Friday, July 3. (Kaitlyn Bedrick)

One of the volunteers, Saul Aguero, is also a business owner. He owns the Venezuelan restaurant Fogonero, which has held many donation drives. Aguero said he was very “surprised and happy,” to see the level of support, especially how many different people came together to help. 

The quake has sent ripples through the community in Austin. Acosta said that due to the emotional stress of the earthquakes, many of his employees didn’t come to work.

“This week at Vaco House, we didn’t do any production,” Acosta said. “It’s like you want to cry, but you can’t.”

In total, Gunz said the Austin Venezuelan Association has arranged about 2,700 boxes of humanitarian aid.

“It’s a whole movement, and we couldn’t do it without all the volunteers, ” Gunz said.