Venezuelan organizers in the Tampa Bay area are hosting a free mental health support gathering on Saturday at the Children’s Board in Tampa. The event, titled “When our ground shakes, we hold on,” aims to help community members process the trauma of last month’s devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, which killed nearly 4,000 people. Organizers Denisse Pacheco and Katherine Borja created this space to allow individuals to grieve together, share their experiences, and find communal support. Pacheco, who moved from Venezuela three years ago, described the emotional difficulty of waiting for news about her family while feeling helpless from afar. She noted that many in the community are experiencing feelings of guilt, sadness, stress, and depression due to the disaster. The gathering will include opportunities for attendees to listen to one another, offer mutual support, and participate in calming breathing exercises. Borja emphasized that these spaces help people feel heard and connected as they navigate their grief together.
Tampa Venezuelans Host Mental Health Support After Earthquake
