At Amara Chocolate and Cafe in Pasadena, owner Amara Barroeta is turning her business into a place for the community to gather, process grief and organize support.
Since the quake, the restaurant has become a hub for connection and relief efforts. Barroeta has also used social media to share vetted information about ways to help.
"I'll be sharing different organizations that you can trust and donate," she said in an Instagram post.
Customers say the tragedy feels deeply personal.
"I feel super proud to be a Venezuelan," said Otto Scheurin of Pasadena. "I still have family in Caracas."
On a recent day, 70% of the cafe's sales were pledged to GlobalGiving's earthquake relief efforts.
Barroeta said the response has united people beyond the Venezuelan community, including those affected by the Eaton Fire.
"We had so many people who are Altadena fire survivors that they came - they don't have any home, right - but they came to support this morning," Barroeta said. "I say it with my heart, I'm very grateful."
Barroeta grew up about 30 minutes from the destruction in Caracas. She said her family's recipes serve as a reminder of comfort and connection during difficult times.
"It's not just the food that you eat, but also the hug that the Venezuelans need," she said.
Food, she said, plays a central role in culture and healing. At her restaurant, dishes like the arepa carry symbolic meaning.
"For Venezuelans, that is our main bread and we basically open it and it's a white canvas," Barroeta said.
She describes that canvas as a reflection of possibility and unity, concepts that guide her approach to giving back.
"People, when they live in a circular economy, in a circular world, they help each other and it comes back to you," Barroeta said.
Barroeta plans to continue hosting fundraisers and building support for relief efforts in Venezuela, emphasizing a long-term commitment to helping those affected.
"We've been healing as a community," she said. "The food is not just the connector, but there's also food for thought and food for your soul."