Residents of Little Havana pulled together to raise money and collected much-needed items Venezuela on Thursday. The oil-rich South American country is suffering from a severe economic collapse and a chronic shortage of food and medicine.
"Everything is needed. It's unbelievable," said Venezuelan Alfredo Rodriguez. He is one of the owners of El Jaleo de la Ocho, a Cuban restaurant on Southwest Eighth Street that hosted the fundraiser. He splits his time between his hometown of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and Miami.
The scarcity in his home country, he said, is enormous. On any given day, supermarkets might not have the basics, like sugar, flour and rice. Baby formula and feminine products are particularly hard to come by.
Read more: Many Venezuelan Women Opting For Sterilization Amid Economic Collapse
These items and more filled bins in front of El Jaleo as Little Havana locals, predominantly Cuban, stopped by to offer aid to their friends from across the Caribbean.
"I came to this country 55 years ago for the same conditions as the Venezuelan people now. And I would like to help because it was hard for us when we came, but Americans helped us," said Nancy Acostadorta, 82, who has lived in Little Havana since her departure from the communist island.
And while she recognizes Venezuela's economic situation is not easy, she has some advice for the struggling nation: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
Or even send lemonade. The fundraiser was sponsored by the Broward-based non-profit organization Sun.Risas. Nicole Galli, one of the founders, is Venezuelan.
"For [the Cuban community] wanting to help us, it means a lot," she said. "Because it's the first country, like the people, that calls us and says, hey, you know what, we want to do something for Venezuela."
Donations for Venezuela can be made on Sun.risas' website.
