Chicago’s Venezuelan Community Organizes Earthquake Relief Donations as Death Toll Passes 1,400

CHICAGO (WLS) — Venezuelans throughout Chicago are rallying to collect emergency supplies for communities hit hard after two major earthquakes struck their home country Wednesday.

By Saturday, officials said the death toll had climbed dramatically to 1,430, while families reported at least 68,900 people missing following the back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes that devastated parts of Venezuela.

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Among the local donation hubs is Quericozon Venezuela, a restaurant in Belmont Cragin, where volunteers have been collecting items for the past two days. Donors have brought in essential goods ranging from hygiene supplies to medicine.

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“Everyone here knows everything our country is going through, so basically we’re just collecting a lot of things like medications and things for personal use like shampoos,” said Adriana Rozza, who is helping lead the fundraiser.

Organizers said the outpouring has been so large that they had to pause clothing donations because of limited storage space. The focus has shifted to packing and shipping priority items, including hygiene products and medicines, which will be sent to Miami for a local nonprofit to coordinate delivery to Venezuela.

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