Standing outside her casual Venezuelan restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, Kelly Montana held photos of her parents, holding back tears. This marks the longest period Montana has gone without speaking to her parents; she typically talks to them daily, even when they are miles away in La Guaira, Venezuela. Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck 100 miles west of Caracas on June 24, leaving her unable to reach them.
Montana’s parents were vacationing in La Guaira during the quakes and are among the 40,600 people still missing, according to a digital database for families to register missing loved ones. The death toll, initially at 600, has surged to 2,200. In response, Montana transformed her restaurant into a donation drop-off site.
Volunteers, including Lia Saba and her daughter Beverly Arbiz from Grenada Hills, and Alecia Negron from Silver Lake, helped organize and pack donations. Montana opened Full Arepas last year as a tribute to Venezuela. On Tuesday morning, volunteers gathered outside her restaurant, packing supplies like sanitary items and nonperishable foods donated by the community. Montana remains hopeful, “I’m going to pray for a miracle.”
The supplies are destined for Miami and then Venezuela via Olarte Transport, volunteer Andrea Casanova explained. Her grandfather, who was in Venezuela during the earthquakes, survived after navigating down 13 flights with an injured leg. Reflecting on the situation, Casanova said, “I’ve definitely been going home and crying after hours.”
Los Angeles houses 6,770 Venezuelans, according to the Los Angeles Almanac. Many, like Montana and Casanova, have family and friends affected by the disaster. In Long Beach, Nova Bakery has also opened as a donation center, collecting items for Olarte to transport. Pierina Barboza, the owner, expressed hope that the donations would assist evacuees, stating that unity is critical for the cause.
Although collections concluded earlier in the week, Alviany Dominguez still dropped off canned food. His family is from Zulia, Venezuela’s most populous state. Dominguez highlighted the importance of aid, “The damage is huge, the need for help is there.” Barboza intends to continue aid efforts through social media, saying, “Without a doubt, we’ll be that center of help for those who need it.”
In Pasadena, Amara Cafe’s owner, Amara Barroeta, pledged to donate 70% of Tuesday’s profits to Global Giving, supporting emergency relief in Venezuela. The arepa pabellón, a signature Venezuelan dish, was a popular order during the fundraiser. Barroeta emphasized the emotional support her restaurant offered, saying, “I feel people needed a hug. We all needed to talk.”
Despite the ongoing challenges, the donation site outside Full Arepas continues to receive contributions, though Montana’s parents remain missing. International rescue teams are still on the ground in La Guaira, searching for survivors. Montana holds on to hope, declaring, “I have hope today that I’m gonna find them.”