Full Arepas in downtown LA packs aid for Venezuela earthquake victims as owner’s parents remain missing

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES () — La Guaira

Rescuers are racing against the clock as the death toll grows in Venezuela. Meanwhile, a Southern California Venezuelan restaurant is doing its part to help people impacted by the earthquakes as the owner’s parents remain missing.

Three Americans are confirmed to be among the more than 1,400 people killed in two earthquakes that shook the country in the span of a few hours on Wednesday. Desperation has set in, and tensions are rising, with people frustrated by what they say is a slow response by the government.

Survivors are now digging through the rubble themselves, hoping to find more survivors before it’s too late. Nearly 70,000 people are still believed to be missing.

Thousands of military and police are on patrol after the back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude quakes brought down apartment buildings, homes and businesses.

In total, 71 members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department have arrived in Venezuela to help. They’re joining firefighters from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. The three urban search and rescue teams also include doctors, structural engineers and K-9 search specialists.

In downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, volunteers worked to pack donation boxes full of clothes, toiletries, baby items and non-perishable food.

“I feel really proud because we’re working as a team,” said volunteer Jose Fernandez.

The volunteers worked all day sorting the items so they can be shipped to relief partners to support earthquake survivors in Venezuela.

“We are all humans, you know, and we need to help each other,” said volunteer Anna Sophia.

The owner of the downtown L.A. restaurant that organized the donation drive, Full Arepas, is among the family members searching for answers after the powerful earthquakes.

“They are missing. They were in one of the buildings that collapsed in La Guaira,” owner Kelly Montano said.

Montano said her parents were just north of Caracas, inside the parking garage of a building that collapsed during the earthquakes, and they still have not been found.

“By this time, almost more than 72 hours. It’s difficult to find them alive,” Montano said.

Even while she waits for news about her own family, she’s spending her time helping others.

“I don’t have time for crying, because, you know, I am doing,” Montano said. “If we cannot help from over there, we can help from here.”

In addition to helping with donations, Montano also spent her day in the kitchen, making food for the volunteers who showed up to help.

Full Arepas will be accepting donations from Sunday through Tuesday.