There are news stories one would never want to have to write. In recent days, Venezuelans have lived hours of anguish as we followed the news arriving from our country. Between unanswered calls, messages that took a long time to come through, and the uncertainty of not knowing how our relatives and friends were, thousands of people inside and outside Venezuela shared the same concern.
But in the midst of the sadness something happened that deserves to be told. Houston again proved why it is one of the most supportive and diverse cities in the United States.
As soon as the needs of the affected communities began to come to light, organizations, businesspeople, community leaders and ordinary citizens started to mobilize to help. Donation centers appeared at various points across the city. Whole families arrived with water, non-perishable foods, diapers, baby formula, medicines, personal hygiene products and even pet food.
The most beautiful thing was not only the amount of donations received, but the people who decided to give their time.
I saw volunteers organizing boxes for hours. I saw people sorting products after finishing their workday. I saw young people, older adults and entire families working together for a common cause. Many were Venezuelans. Others were Colombians, Mexicans, Cubans, Hondurans, Salvadorans and Americans who simply wanted to help.
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Photo by Betty Luis and courtesy of Volunteers
Because when a tragedy hits a community, the pain does not understand nationalities.
Houston is a city built by immigrants. Perhaps that is why there is a special sensitivity toward those who go through difficult moments. Here we understand what it means to miss a country, to worry about those left behind, and to feel that a part of our heart continues to live somewhere else.
The response of the Hispanic community during these days has been a demonstration that our roots stay alive, no matter how many years we have been away from our homeland. We have integrated into this city, we have made it our home and contributed to its growth, but we never forget where we come from.
It has also been a reminder of something that we sometimes forget amidst so much negative news: the good people are more numerous.
There are more people who help than those who criticize. There are more who donate than those who remain indifferent. There are more who extend a hand than those who turn their backs.
As a Venezuelan, I feel deeply grateful to every person who made a donation, to every volunteer who dedicated hours of work and to every organization that opened its doors to serve as a bridge between Houston and Venezuela.
And as a journalist, I feel that these stories deserve to be told.
Because when we talk about spreading love for Houston, we are talking precisely about this: about a city capable of mobilizing for those who suffer, about a Hispanic community that remains united, and about people who understand that solidarity has no borders.
