On June 27, 2026, members of Montreal’s Venezuelan community gathered at the Arepera du Plateau restaurant in the Plateau Mont‑Royal borough to turn the eatery into a distribution centre for relief supplies destined for earthquake‑stricken areas of Venezuela. The volunteers took over the space to sort, pack and organise donated items, creating a temporary hub that will channel assistance to those affected by the back‑to‑back quakes that struck the South American nation on Wednesday.
The effort involved volunteers setting up tables and storage areas inside the restaurant, cataloguing contributions that had been collected from local donors. By concentrating the supplies in a single, accessible location, the group aimed to streamline the process of sending aid abroad, ensuring that packages could be prepared quickly and dispatched to relief organisations working on the ground in Venezuela.
The earthquakes that hit Venezuela on Wednesday caused extensive damage, prompting an outpouring of support from diaspora communities and international charities. While details of the disaster’s impact remain in the early stages of assessment, the need for food, medical supplies and shelter materials has been widely reported, spurring volunteers in cities with significant Venezuelan populations to organise assistance.
The transformation of Arepera du Plateau into an aid hub underscores the willingness of Montreal’s Venezuelan residents to mobilise resources in response to a crisis affecting their homeland. By repurposing a familiar local establishment, the volunteers not only provided a practical venue for logistics but also highlighted the connection between the neighbourhood and the broader humanitarian effort. The initiative reflects a coordinated community response, with the restaurant serving as a focal point for collecting, organising and forwarding essential supplies to support relief operations in Venezuela.
The activity at Arepera du Plateau is part of a larger wave of charitable actions across Canada, as expatriates and allies rally to address the urgent needs arising from the recent Venezuelan earthquakes.