Another 'Arepas for Freedom' fundraiser was held in Altona this week with the help of Build A Village. 

Angelica, who prefers not to use her last name to protect her family back home, said the goal was to raise $3,500 to cover immigration costs for her family.

"I've been supporting my family and my immediate family to bring them to Canada as refugees, so far my parents have already gotten their status and this fundraiser was to support my sister, brother-in-law, and my nephews," she said.

This week the family will meet with Immigration Canada to review their case, and the fundraiser is to cover the cost of the legal fees, as well as living expenses.

"I have two more sisters, they are in the U.S.," said Angelica. "Hopefully we can all be here in Canada because we do want to be together."

Due to financial reasons, the plan is to just get the immediate family together in Canada. However, all of her distant relatives in Venezuela are seeking refuge.

"Back home I can tell you that I have cousins already also immigrating to other countries, they are moving (to) South America, Europe, any place they can find... based on their means, to try to find a better life."

Another obstacle for the family is Venezuela's complex currency control.

"In my country, when you leave, you don't have the option to take your money with you," Angelica explained. Her family has created a fund where they pool their money to support newcomer family members.

The newcomers to Altona. Angelica's sister, brother-in-law, and their two children with one on the way

"Luckily the community here in Altona, they are amazing," said Angelica, noting people have donated money, offered living supplies, and even offered to help babysit.

Angelica, holding back tears, said she never imagined Venezuela to be a place people would flee from. She has mixed feelings about her sister getting refugee status, but knows it's the only option right now.

"It's very hard... if they (Venezuela) were having struggles last year, it's worse right now. I can tell you that we lost family, relatives, because they didn't have access to antibiotics, simple antibiotics."

Due to the lack of medication, Angelica believes she would not survive in Venezuela as a diabetic.

The price of food is also increasing at an alarming rate. Venezuela's currency has been significantly devalued, while inflation rates are extremely high, making food and medication too costly for the average person.

"The number of children that are starving, you look at the pictures and you think you're a seeing a place that is at war... but no, it's Venezuela, no one would ever imagine that Venezuela would be in this position today."

Angelica doesn't understand why the country's government refuses to admit the desperate situation. She says children don't go to school anymore because they are too hungry, and people are being robbed and killed for groceries.

"There are a bunch of countries that are willing to send food, to send medicines... but just the government is not willing to accept the help because if they do, then they're recognizing that they're failing," she said.

Although other countries are stepping in and imposing sanctions, Angelica said things still aren't improving.

"It's not enough, last year people were dying, this year, yes they have sanctions, but people are still dying," she said. "I don't know what else to do as a citizen."

Angelica explained her family is an obvious target in Venezuela because they oppose the government, which is the reason her parents had to flee.

"I know that I cannot be quiet about it," said Angelica. "That is something that the Venezuelan government also hates."

Not everyone has the means to leave the country, and Angelica is worried about how surrounding countries will deal with the increasing influx of refugees.

"Many countries around Venezuela are now struggling because they're receiving this mass population," she said. "Who has the money to support this?"

"No one wants to leave really, it's just out of desperation," she added.

Angelica is not a refugee, she's actually in the process of receiving permanent residence. She has always been interested in exploring the world and came to Canada as a student and to work. But, as time went by, she decided it wasn't safe to return and began helping family members come to Canada.

"This refugee process is new for us, for Venezuelans. It's not common to see that. In the past 10 years it's something we have learned well, what it means to be a refugee," Angelica explained.

"When I came to Canada I thought, 'Oh, Venezuela is very much like Canada,'... Our country at one moment received many many immigrants from Europe, from North America, because the economy was great... people were also escaping from the horrible things that were happening globally, and they came to Venezuela, they settled there."

Angelica noted her family in Venezuela was diverse, with last names stemming from Italy and France. Now she's trying to get used to the idea that Venezuela is not the place it once was, and is no longer a desired destination.

When asked if she has plans to visit her home country in the future, Angelica said that won't be possible for a long time.

"I would be a target for the government because they know my position," she explained.

However, Angelica remains hopeful that things will change, and said all she can do now is raise awareness of the desperate situation.

Ray Loewen, founder of Build A VillageBuild A Village, an organization in Altona, has been helping the family with the fund raiser through volunteer efforts. Ray Loewen, who started the organization, said the best way to help is to volunteer. He noted donations are always welcome as well.

"That is usually our limiting factor," explained Loewen. "We could be sponsoring more families if we had more volunteers."