Volunteers from Montreal's Venezuelan community came together on Saturday, June 27, 2026, to collect and organize donated supplies intended for victims of the back‑to‑back earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24. The effort was centered at Arepera du Plateau, a restaurant located in the Plateau Mont‑Royal neighbourhood, which served as a temporary hub for sorting and packaging the aid.
Community members arrived early in the day, bringing contributions of food, clothing, and other necessities. Together they arranged the items on tables inside the restaurant, separating them by category to streamline later distribution. The collaborative atmosphere reflected a shared commitment to support families affected by the recent seismic events.
Arepera du Plateau, known for its Venezuelan fare, opened its doors to the volunteers, providing space and basic facilities for the coordination of the relief drive. The restaurant's location on the Plateau made it accessible to a broad segment of the diaspora, allowing participants from various parts of the city to drop off donations and lend a hand in the sorting process.
The earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24 caused widespread damage and left many communities in urgent need of assistance. News of the disaster quickly reached the Venezuelan diaspora in Montreal, prompting an organized response within days. The gathering of supplies at the restaurant was one of the first concrete actions taken by the community to address the emerging humanitarian crisis.
After the items were sorted, volunteers prepared them for transport, packing boxes that would be sent to relief organizations operating on the ground in Venezuela. The coordinated effort aimed to ensure that the aid reached those most in need as efficiently as possible.
The donation drive at Arepera du Plateau illustrates how Montreal's Venezuelan community mobilized swiftly after the seismic events, turning local resources into tangible support for their compatriots abroad. Ongoing contributions and further collections are expected as the relief effort continues.