HOUSTON – It’s been nearly a week since two earthquakes devastated Venezuela, and rescuers are still pulling people — and animals — from the rubble.
As the need for help continues to grow, several Houston-area groups are stepping up to collect and ship supplies to those affected.
Among them is a small restaurant in the Greenway/Upper Kirby area, where the owners say they’re doing whatever they can to help their home country.
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Gusto Gourmet may be a small spot, but don’t let that fool you. The Venezuelan fusion restaurant is a direct reflection of its owners, Sandra Sarshalom and her husband, Yosi — and what they’re really serving up these days is heart.
“We were born in Venezuela. Venezuela is our country. We were raised and born in Caracas,” Sandra Sarshalom said. “It is our place, and it’s devastating to see the second time that something has happened to La Guaira. It’s really sad.”
The Sarshaloms have been closely following every image, video, and update out of Venezuela — the rubble, the rescues, the heartbreak. They say it hit too close to home not to act.
“The principal thing that we’re doing is receiving donations,” Sarshalom said. “The main donation is money. We’re going to put on our website all the organizations that receive the money because it goes directly to Venezuela. They need the money there because they have a way to get the supplies in Venezuela.”
In addition to monetary donations, the restaurant is also collecting medical and baby supplies to send back to Venezuela.
“Medical or baby supplies — no food, no clothes,” Sarshalom said. “Only the basic things that are needed in Venezuela now. We’re going to send them to the Global Empowerment Movement, and they’re going to send everything to Venezuela.”
The plan is simple — collect as much as possible and get it back to Venezuela as quickly as possible. The Sarshaloms are working through groups like Metabox Cargo in Katy, which has already turned into a full-scale relief hub with dozens of pallets of supplies stacked and ready to ship.
As for what’s happening on the ground in Venezuela, Sarshalom says the situation is entering a painful new phase.
“People are dying. They still have found people alive — that is amazing. It’s a miracle,” she said. “We are really thankful, and I think people have to keep looking, keep searching. But now is the second phase, and I think it’s going to be harder than the first one, because now you’re going to find the people that didn’t make it, and you have to rebuild the cities.”
For those who want to help, diners at Gusto Gourmet can contribute simply by eating there — a portion of every tab will be donated to relief efforts. Monetary donations can also be made through organizations like the Red Cross and WeLove Foundation.
Links to those organizations can be found here.
The Houston Astros are also joining the effort. The Astros Foundation is holding a supply drive Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Union Station.
Accepted items include non-perishable food, new temporary household goods, baby diapers, wipes, bottles, and hygiene products. Fans attending Friday’s game can also drop off supplies at that time.