Santa comes to Caracas. Kids ask for food and medicine, not toys.

Give us food! They shout to a Santa Claus in the muted streets of Caracas
Dec 18, 2017 12:00 pm by Alex Vasquez

Joel Rodríguez, a homeless man who lacks a leg, breaks into tears when a young man dressed as San Nicolás gives him food and clothes in Caracas, a flash of solidarity at a Christmas that is extinguished by the crisis.

"Sometimes we eat garbage, (...), but God always puts angels on our way and you are the angels of Christmas," says Joel, who moves in a wheelchair, before the sob cuts his voice .

Several young people around him, dressed as elves, clowns or Christmas hats, cried with him, shouted excitedly and embraced him.

They are volunteers of "Santa in the streets", an initiative that emerged 12 years ago to bring gifts before Christmas to the poorest people in the capital and other cities in the country.

This time, in a Caracas without lights or Christmas decorations, Santa and his elves gave food, medicines, clothing and toys to children, the elderly and the homeless.

Those present were in tune with the tough economic crisis, due to which food and medicines are scarce, and inflation could climb to 2,349% by 2018, according to the IMF.

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https://www.lapatilla.com/site/2017/12/18/danos-comida-gritan-a-un-santa-claus-en-las-apagadas-calles-de-caracas/