On June 24th, two tragic back-to-back earthquakes hit Venezuela, causing mass destruction and devastation. The earthquakes are some of the strongest to hit the country in over 100 years, with the first one reading a magnitude 7.2 and the second at a magnitude 7.5 earthquake.
Sadly, the situation in Venezuela is dire, with the current death toll at least 2,295, according to the Associated Press. On top of this tragic news, thousands more are injured and more than 50,000 people are reportedly still missing.
The death toll is expected to rise as the devastating natural disaster develops.
Now, many from all over the world are looking for ways to show their support and send much-needed supplies to the people of Venezuela, including Atlantans.
How can I help from Atlanta?
If you’re looking for ways to help from Atlanta, there are many places to donate! We rounded up some of the best boots-on-the-ground foundations that are working with local organizations (and sending volunteers) to help, here.
And if you’d like to do something even more community-driven and localized, you can head to Arepa Mía, a local Venezuelan restaurant that is helping Venezuela in a big way.
Initially, on June 26th, Chef Lis & the Arepa Mía Family said on social media,
… Arepa Mía will donate $2 for every arepa we sell to support humanitarian relief in Venezuela. If you’d like to help even more, you can also add a donation of $5, $10, $20, $30, or $50 to your order. Every dollar raised will go toward food, clean water, medicine, and essential supplies through trusted organizations on the ground, including Cáritas de Venezuela and ReencontrArteCcs, so the help reaches the people who need it most.
This fundraiser was originally supposed to last only one weekend, but the need is so great in Venezuela that Arepa Mía has decided to extend the fundraiser.
They state,
We are currently raising funds and making donations through World Central Kitchen, and we may continue our campaign until we reach $10,000. We have already raised over $7,000, and we’re even considering extending our fundraising efforts throughout the entire month of July because the need is still so great.
You can still head to Arepa Mía and donate with your meal to help them reach their goal and help as many people in Venezuela as possible.
About Arepa Mía
Where: 10 N Clarendon Av SE suite A, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Hours:
- Sun & Mon: closed
- Tues – Sat: 11:30am – 9pm
*Kitchen closes at 8:45pm
Their menu is handcrafted by Chef Lis Hernandez with locally sourced ingredients from Georgia farms. Everything on the menu is 100% gluten free.
See the full menu and learn more about Arepa Mía on their website, here.
Follow along on their social media, @arepamia, and continue sharing their campaign to reach as many people as possible, here.
