Recent earthquakes in Caracas, Venezuela have shaken the spirit of Venezuelan natives around the world. Members of Albuquerque’s Latino community decided to step up and lend a hand by conducting a weekend-long donation drive at Casa Blanca Market on Montgomery Boulevard Northeast.”We took this initiative because many Venezuelans in Albuquerque wanted to help,” said Barbara Ramirez, who helped organize the weekend event. “People are donating and so we are very grateful and celebrating that.”The earthquakes have killed at least 1,400 people and have injured more than 3,200 people.”The Venezuelan community is hurting right now,” Ramirez said. “Even though we are far away, we feel Venezuela very close in our hearts. And even if our family members are safe, it hurts.”Ramirez says her family is safe, but other Venezuelan natives living in Albuquerque weren’t as fortunate.”There are a lot of people who don’t know about their family members because the buildings they were in collapsed,” Ramirez said. “Some of them have received confirmation that their family members have passed away. Unfortunately, others remain under the rubble waiting to be rescued.”Albuquerque residents with roots in Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico were among those doing what they can to help. Nearly 200 plastic containers of supplies ranging from canned foods, clothes, sleeping bags and hygiene products have been collected.Those items will be shipped to Florida, then to the Global Empowerment Organization. In about four to six weeks, the items will arrive in Caracas for distribution to residents in need.
Recent earthquakes in Caracas, Venezuela have shaken the spirit of Venezuelan natives around the world. Members of Albuquerque’s Latino community decided to step up and lend a hand by conducting a weekend-long donation drive at Casa Blanca Market on Montgomery Boulevard Northeast.
“We took this initiative because many Venezuelans in Albuquerque wanted to help,” said Barbara Ramirez, who helped organize the weekend event. “People are donating and so we are very grateful and celebrating that.”
The earthquakes have killed at least 1,400 people and have injured more than 3,200 people.
“The Venezuelan community is hurting right now,” Ramirez said. “Even though we are far away, we feel Venezuela very close in our hearts. And even if our family members are safe, it hurts.”
Ramirez says her family is safe, but other Venezuelan natives living in Albuquerque weren’t as fortunate.
“There are a lot of people who don’t know about their family members because the buildings they were in collapsed,” Ramirez said. “Some of them have received confirmation that their family members have passed away. Unfortunately, others remain under the rubble waiting to be rescued.”
Albuquerque residents with roots in Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico were among those doing what they can to help. Nearly 200 plastic containers of supplies ranging from canned foods, clothes, sleeping bags and hygiene products have been collected.
Those items will be shipped to Florida, then to the Global Empowerment Organization. In about four to six weeks, the items will arrive in Caracas for distribution to residents in need.
