The 'La Palma con Venezuela' platform is organising a charity meal this Sunday in Santa Cruz de La Palma to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake that has left over 5,300 dead in the Caribbean country.
The earthquake that shook Venezuela on June 24 has left an indelible mark on La Palma. With over 5,300 fatalities and tens of thousands missing, the island, connected by migration ties to the South American country, has responded with a solidarity campaign culminating this Sunday with a charity meal at the Miraflores Pavilion.
The 'La Palma con Venezuela' platform, driven by associations of Venezuelans residing on the island and local groups, has organised 'A Thousand Hearts for Venezuela', an event aimed at raising funds for affected families. The event is set for 14:00 in Santa Cruz de La Palma, with tickets available online and at various establishments in the capital of La Palma.
The official tally, updated as of July 23, raises the death toll to 5,398 and the number of injured to over 16,700. However, the most concerning figure is that of the missing: citizen initiatives report nearly 29,500 people, while the United Nations estimates up to 50,000. More than 1,400 aftershocks have kept the population on edge since the first quake.
The epicentre of the tragedy is the coastal state of La Guaira, with towns like Caraballeda, La Guaira, and Macuto among the hardest hit. Nearly 856 buildings have been affected, 190 of which have collapsed, and almost 18,000 people have been left homeless. Over 23,000 victims are living in temporary camps, while authorities conduct DNA tests to identify the deceased.
For La Palma, this tragedy is particularly close to home. During the 20th century, thousands of people from La Palma emigrated to Venezuela in search of a better future. Those ties remain strong: families spread across both shores, shared surnames, and an active Canary Island community organised around the Houses of Canarias. Therefore, when Venezuela trembles, La Palma feels it.
The 'La Palma con Venezuela' platform was created with the aim of centralising aid and ensuring its transparency. It has the support of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Presidency Department, and the Insular Council of La Palma. The funds raised will be channelled through the Houses of Canarias in Venezuela, which will be responsible for distributing them on the ground.
The Government of the Canary Islands has already allocated 1.8 million euros to those affected by the earthquakes, but the platform insists that reconstruction will be long and that aid should not be a one-off gesture. Therefore, they have proposed coordinating actions in the various municipalities of the island for as long as necessary.
This Sunday’s charity meal is the first major event. Tickets, which can be purchased at TomaTicket.es, are also available in Santa Cruz de La Palma at Plus del Fumador, Cafetería El Sol, Kiosco de La Alameda, La Arepera Encuentro de La Alameda, and Pizzería Mamma Mía. Each ticket, according to the organisers, represents 'a gesture of support and hope' for those suffering on the other side of the Atlantic.
The initiative has been well received by the La Palma community, who see this action as a way to give back all that Venezuela once provided to so many Canary Island emigrants. Solidarity, once again, proves that the ties that bind La Palma to Venezuela are stronger than any distance.
For those who wish to contribute but cannot attend the meal, the platform has set up a bank account for donations, the details of which can be found on the initiative's social media. Transparency in the management of funds is guaranteed by the Council and the Government of the Canary Islands.
The event is this Sunday, July 26, starting at 14:00, at the Miraflores Pavilion in Santa Cruz de La Palma. An opportunity to show that, from a distance, one can still be close.
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