'So devastating': Tulsans helping Venezuelans impacted by earthquakes

By: Isabel Flores

TULSA, Okla — The Venezuelan earthquakes that hit June 24 continue taking a toll. The death count is more than 1,400 as of June 27.

You may know Jose Torres as the face behind Morcilla’s sausages, but now he’s facing one of the toughest times in his life.

WATCH: "It's so devastating": Tulsans helping Venezuelans impacted by Earthquakes:

"It's so devastating": Tulsans helping Venezuelans impacted by Earthquakes

Torres lost his sister and brother-in-law in the June 24 earthquakes during a catastrophic building collapse.

They left behind their two sons, who Torres has since started a GoFundMe for.

Torres said he hadn’t left the house in days trying to process the loss.

“It's so devastating, I mean, I feel so bad. We are frustrated because we cannot help," Torres told 2 News Oklahoma. "I wish to be there and try to help people, because it's a lot of people, kids, and it's a very, very huge situation. We never expect this.”

The internet connection around the area of La Guaira has been spotty, making communication difficult, and volunteers have run low on gasoline, water and supplies.

While he said it’s very difficult, the Venezuelan-American community’s resilience and support keep him going.

“I mean it's so bad, but they're doing an amazing job right now," he said. "They're working since the tragedy happens.”

Angeles en Tulsa is a non-profit that has worked in the past to send things like kids toys to Venezuela.

Now, they're working with shipping company BeeBox to send out items from food, water, clothing and even medicine to Venezuela.

They met at 1925 W Concord Circle on June 27 and will continue June 28 to collect, organize, and pack donations to ship out.

St. Thomas More Catholic Church is also collecting supplies on June 28 from 7am to 7pm.

“It’s not just Venezuelans helping out," Angeles en Tulsa vice president Josybel Lopez said. "People from all nationalities have come to support and have even stayed with us to pack and organize. We are really grateful.”

Volunteer Ramon Urbina agreed and thanked everyone for their support as well as highlighting its importance.

“The most important thing to us is that these packages make it to the citizens, not big groups," he said. "We want to make sure we are helping people who’ve been impacted the most in the catastrophe.”

Angeles en Tulsa has also helped organize a community-wide collection, with businesses all over becoming drop-off spots including but not limited to PeggyFlavors on 15th Street, TQ Much & Antojos To Go on Mingo, El Arepaso on South Yale, and Caribbean Sushi in Broken Arrow.