HIGHLAND - A group of moms from the Highland area are reaching out to help a woman in Venezuela who supports some 300 orphans. The Highland women are holding a garage sale for Operation Elba's Orphans on Oct. 26-27 at the old Daiber's Martial Arts/KiDo building at 814 Cypress St., Highland. The garage sale hours are Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Money raised will be sent through Missions International to Elba Herrera de Venta, a woman in Venezuela who has "collected" children from common dumping sites in Venezuela and given them a place to live, food to eat, clothing to wear and faith in God.
On Friday, Nov. 9, a benefit dance and silent auction for Operation Elba's Orphans will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Highland. Admission is a minimum donation of $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 17, and free for children under 3. Music will be by RX Blues and SavisDavis bands.
Michele Capelle, a parishioner at St. Paul Church in Highland, is a friend of Elba. She and a group of other moms like herself in Highland banded together to raise money for Operation Elba's Orphans.
Elba grew up in a privileged family in Venezuela, graduated from college, married and was a mother when one day, while walking in a big plaza in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, she passed a pile of trash and heard a crying sound. An animal lover, Elba thought it might be a kitten or puppy in trouble. To her surprise she found a newborn child. That newborn baby boy was very ill and later died in the hospital with Elba at his side. She named him Jesus. From that day on she began gathering abandoned children and taking care of them. Dumpsters and junk yards were common dumping sites where she found them. At first, she took them to her home, but soon ran out of room.
Today Elba has a total of almost 300 children in the two orphanages that she supports in Venezuela. The children are cared for by nuns, with the assistance of a local priest, while Elba spends her days begging for supplies for the children. College-trained in nursing and computers, Elba worked as a tour guide for years, but is now unable to find work because of the country's 80 percent unemployment rate.
For a long time, generous people in Venezuela supported Elba's orphans, but the political situation in the country has become unstable and the economy has fallen apart. She says it is difficult to buy basic foods like eggs, meat and bread.
Over the past year, Elba, who lives with her husband Giovanni, a mechanic and handyman, in Caracas, has maxed out her credit card at 32 percent over this last year. She sold her vehicle and exhausted her personal resources.
"She is unable to provide food, medicine, clothing and basic supplies for the children. But we can," said Capelle. "Pray, pray, pray. Help us spread awareness of the situation there, and if you can, work with us to help non-profit agencies send donations to Elba and the children." For more information, e-mail Capelle at , or call (618) 654-8211.