Recipe for Relief

Bake sale aids Venezuelan earthquake response

Ashlee Argento and Marianne Kohler oversee the bake sale table on July 11. Photo by kc dyer.

Local resident Ashlee Argento recently gathered together a tasty mountain of cookies, cupcakes, sour dough bread and other baking goodies donated by her neighbours, and set to work selling the lot.

Her goal was to raise money to support Direct Relief, a non-governmental organization, in their efforts to mobilize medical aid following two devastating Venezuelan earthquakes in late June.

"Seeing communities come together in such desperate circumstances — people digging through collapsed buildings searching for loved ones — I found myself wondering what we can do in our own community,” Argento said.

With the support of her baking team and a long line of residents eager to buy up the stock, Argento and her team raised more than $1400 for the cause.

On the evening of June 24, two earthquakes with estimated magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 struck Northern Venezuela just 39 seconds apart, causing widespread devastation. The most recent government estimates, released one month after the twin quakes are 5,546 dead, with 16,740 injured.

There is no official estimate of missing persons, but as of July 26, citizen's initiative venezuelareporta.com is reporting at least 41,000 people are still unaccounted for.

Lilla, a spokesperson for Direct Relief, told Argento that for the past month the organization has been working closely with local health authorities and trusted partners to deliver urgently needed medical aid and support emergency response efforts. "Direct Relief teams are helping ensure that healthcare providers have the essential medicines and supplies they need to care for affected communities," she said.

Argento was delighted by the community's response, and asked The Watershed to pass along Direct Relief's thanks to everyone involved in organizing and supporting the bake sale in Lions Bay. 

Direct Relief continues to accept donations toward mobilizing medical aid to Venezuelans HERE.

The Watershed welcomes your thoughts.

Leave your comments below,

or email us at editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca 

Like what you're reading?

For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism

by subscribing to The Watershed HERE.