A Jersey Shore shop owner hosted an Italian American festival Saturday to raise money for victims of last Monday's earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy.

Joe Leone, who owns an Italian specialties shop, says he worked with family members, co-workers and neighbors to assemble the festival, which featured live music and food, in just two days. Leone says all the funds generated by the festival, plus donations and 10 percent of his store's profits, will go toward the roughly 40,000 people left homeless by the quake.

Leone plans to travel to Italy with a few volunteers and hand deliver materials, like water and blankets, as well as donation money, to those in need. Leone will connect with some of his Italian suppliers, who he says will provide him with delivery trucks and help navigating the Italian city.

Though the economic downturn has affected how much money people can spare, Leone says one man who lost his job four months ago donated $500.