ST. PETERSBURG, FL — As Venezuelans continue to search for missing loved ones in the aftermath of Wednesday’s destructive earthquakes, here in St. Pete, Carupano Kitchen owner Andrea Osorio is keeping a watchful eye on news from back home.
She’s also doing what she can to help from thousands of miles away by collecting donations of items needed during earthquake recovery in a country that has experienced few natural disasters.
“I think the last one was in, I think, 1998,” she told Patch. “This came out of nowhere. Not only that, but Venezuela was already a country in shambles before this. So, having to experience a natural disaster like this when they don’t have hospitals that work, doctors that can give care, it’s very, very scary.”
The country was hit by a one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes. As of Saturday morning, at least 920 people are dead and more than 51,000 missing.
Osorio and her mother, who works on the food concept with her daughter, will be collecting items at Foodie Labs, 515 22nd Street S., where Carupano is based on Saturday through 7 p.m.