'He was always laughing with a big smile' - Islander launches donation appeal after his brother was tragically killed in the Venezuelan earthquakes - Jersey Evening Post
by Elen Johnston · Jersey Evening PostPosted inNews
‘He was always laughing with a big smile’ – Islander launches donation appeal after his brother was tragically killed in the Venezuelan earthquakes
by Elen Johnston 30 June 202630 June 2026
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IT was not long ago that Mariano Ferreira was speaking to his brother on the other side of the world…
Now, surrounded by bags of donated clothing and supplies at the St Helier barber shop where he works, he is grieving the loss of 36-year-old Javier – a former Jersey café worker killed in the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela – while leading an Island-wide appeal to help those who survived.
The earthquakes, measuring 7.1 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck on the evening of Wednesday 24 June as many celebrated a national holiday. They killed at least 1,450 people, injured around 3,000 and left tens of thousands missing.
Mr Ferreira, who works at Beanina Barber Shop on Beresford Street, told the JEP that he first learnt about the earthquake following a phone call from his other brother. It prompted him to check social media, where he “saw everything”.
Javier – who had previously worked at La Petite Baguette and was hoping to return to Jersey again – was one of the many individuals who went missing in the wake of the shock.
His family embarked on a frantic search for him, starting to fear the worst after someone went to his stepfather’s house and found the family’s cars outside.
Despite searching for two days, they were unable to find him until the devastating news was confirmed.
Remembering his brother, Mariano smiled through his grief.
“He was always happy,” he said. “A lot of people have texted me saying, ‘Your brother made the best baguettes.’ He was always laughing, always with a big smile.”
Determined to channel his grief into something positive, Mr Ferreira has now launched an appeal for help for those who have survived.
He is asking for donations of essential supplies such as painkillers, personal hygiene items, baby diapers and sanitary napkins for women, among other items, which he says are more urgently needed than food. Items can be dropped off at Beanina Barber Shop between 9am and 6pm for the rest of the week.
Mr Ferreira has also launched a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of transporting the aid to Venezuela.
While only officially launched yesterday, the appeal has already generated a huge response.
While speaking to the JEP about his appeal, person after person walked through the barber shop doors carrying bags of donations before embracing him.
The support left him visibly emotional as he thanked islanders for helping his family and the many others affected by the disaster.
Tributes have also been pouring in from people who got to know Javier during his time in Jersey.
Anabela Jardim described him as “such a lovely person”, while Alice De Almeida said the news had left her “in shock”.
“I used to see him every morning before work and he used to make me the best baguettes. We called each other ‘queens’ and we were close.”
The has been felt across Jersey’s Venezuelan community.
Fatima Sousa, whose family also lives in Venezuela, told the JEP that while her immediate relatives were safe, the days since the earthquakes had been filled with uncertainty.
“We had one person missing, my dad’s cousin,” she said.
“They found her yesterday. They have told us she is in hospital but we do not know which one. It is quite a mess at the moment.
“My brother has experienced loss of the business. It is a really hard time. He has a small bakery businesses that has been affected, but in the end, that stuff is material and they can recover in the next few months.”
Jersey Overseas Aid said in a statement that they were monitoring the situation in Venezuela.
Deputy Carina Alves asked newly reconfirmed International Development Minister Carolyn Labey yesterday afternoon about whether the Island would be sending aid.
She responded that they were currently “looking at some emergency humanitarian aid” but cautioned against Islanders collecting donations themselves, as there are “issues with transporting them, Customs fees and the time lag in getting the goods there”, adding that JOA tended to prefer channelling aid to agencies they had “already done due diligence on”.
Note: Mr Ferreira was previously seeking donations of clothes, but has paused this due to the large volume received.
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