In the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela, the Latino community in Austin has come together to provide much-needed humanitarian aid. The region was hit by powerful tremors measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale last Wednesday, resulting in more than 2,295 fatalities and over 11,000 injuries.
The Austin Venezuelan Association swiftly organized local donation drives to respond to the crisis. Business owners and volunteers have united their efforts, contributing time and resources to support the cause.
Jose Mata, a Venezuelan business owner and operator of an Austin moving company named SureMove, expressed his heartbreak over the disaster. “I cried for three days after hearing the news,” he shared. Mata has generously offered his warehouse for the collection of donations, which are now being organized by the association’s volunteers.
“We’ve pretty much put all our operations on hold. The trucks, the warehouse, and all the logistics… everything is at the service right now of humanitarian help for Venezuela,” Mata explained. Despite the impact on his business, he emphasized that it pales in comparison to the suffering experienced by those affected by the earthquakes.
Mata has dedicated over 12 hours a day to this initiative for nearly a week. “We don’t know each other,” he noted about the volunteers. “And this is my warehouse, but every day I have 20, 30, 40 people just helping out and making sure that all the aid goes to the right place.”
Raul Mena, one of the volunteers, took time off work to assist with the effort. Mena shared that his day involved preparing pallets for shipment, and like many others, he was anxiously waiting to hear from his family in Venezuela. Fortunately, they were safe, but realizing the severity of the situation motivated him to take action.
All donations organized by volunteers, including Mena, will be sent to Miami before making their way to Venezuela, according to Elizabeth Gunz, director of the Austin Venezuelan Association. The organization has played a critical role in gathering goods and funds for those affected by the earthquakes.
Last weekend, Gunz and her team successfully organized a donation rally in Pflugerville, accumulating 70 pallets of aid. On Tuesday, she and fellow volunteers were stationed outside Plaza de Toros R3, a venue in southeast Travis County, collecting donations from fans just hours before the Mexico-Ecuador World Cup match.
Spanish language radio host Jaime Zapatero, known as El Pato, actively participated by donating shirts to supporters who contributed and encouraging his followers to give as well. Gunz expressed gratitude for the broad community support they received, highlighting that the successful drive was a collective effort beyond just the Hispanic community.
The funds raised at Plaza de Toros R3 will be crucial for sending the pallets to Venezuela and providing direct relief to those in need. “Everything counts, and everything that I am going to deposit is going to go to a good thing, so that’s what it’s all about,” Gunz stated.
Donations can be made through the Austin Venezuelan Association’s GoFundMe page or their website, where they also share information on volunteering opportunities.
