As Venezuela enters the third week following the devastating back-to-back earthquakes, a group of volunteers continue to prepare meals and deliver supplies to victims and their families in La Guaira, one of the most severely affected states.
In the outskirts of the city, volunteers have turned a private home into an emergency food bank. They collect donations, organize food, cook what they can, and load it into a small car.
"Right now, my house is minimalist. I emptied it out. I collected clothes. I asked my neighbors on WhatsApp, 'Help me, I need help.' And thank God, that is what characterizes us as Venezuelans -- we help each other. It does not matter where you come from or what status you have. We always help each other. The idea is to rebuild our La Guaira. It was already beautiful, already rebuilt, and now it has taken this blow. But we are going to get through this too," said Erelis Gomez, a volunteer.
Erelis' brother, 35-year-old Jesus Gomez, has also volunteered his skills as a chef. He was in La Guaira with his family when the earthquake hit. Surviving unharmed, he responded to a call telling him that a kitchen was available after the owner was killed in the earthquake. The family wanted to help, and they needed someone who knew how to cook.
"Maybe I do not have the heart or the stomach to pull a body from the rubble. I cannot be inside the debris. But I can contribute from what I know, as a cook, helping people. If someone is a mechanic, they can help someone when their car breaks down. If someone is a builder, they can help remove rubble. Everyone has their profession. Everyone has their role. And everyone is contributing. We are all helping," said Jesus.
As the Gomez siblings drove out to help, they saw a grim new reality of damaged neighborhoods, makeshift camps, and streets where people were still trying to clear what the earthquake left behind.
Along the way, they made three stops to deliver food for firefighters, rescue workers, and for people clearing the rubble. The stops were unceremonious, concluding with a smile and handshake.
"It has been difficult for those people because they are desperate, looking for their relatives. Sometimes they go days without eating, without anyone bringing them a plate of food or anything. And then suddenly we arrive with a little bread, with oatmeal. When we arrive, the reaction they have is impressive. I would not trade that reaction for anything in the world. It is truly gratifying," said Yolmal Jesus Miranda Tejada, another volunteer.
Yolmal is also grieving the loss of his grandfather, but he gives his time and energy to people who are also carrying their own sorrows. For him, the work of these young volunteers is part of how La Guaira will begin to stand again.
Volunteers continue delivering food, supplies after deadly quakes
