In the aftermath of the devastating double earthquakes last week near northwestern Venezuela, community groups, businesses, municipalities and relief organizations in South Florida have rapidly mobilized to gather emergency supplies for survivors.
A hub of logistics response to the disaster has become the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) headquarters’ warehouse in Doral, a city that’s been called “Little Venezuela” for its large Venezuelan population. Many pop-up collection centers are bringing the donations they receive from the community here, to get the items into the hands of those affected more than 1,300 miles away. To handle the surge, the relief organization — originally created in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake — is seeking volunteers to sort donations. Visit gem.org/volunteer for information.
Other ways to help include making monetary donations to established charity or service organizations (visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster at nvoad.org for a list) and donating goods through supply drives seeking specific, high-priority items.
Below, find out how to get involved in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Palm Beach County
Doña Arepa: The restaurant’s Boca Raton location, at 515 NE 20th St., is set up as a collection center for donations of first-aid supplies, nonperishable and canned foods, flashlights and batteries. Drop them off during business hours. Visit Facebook.com/donaareparestaurant.
Florida Dream Mortgage: Help Venezuela by bringing supplies to the office at 7428 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Thursday. Items needed include nonperishable food, powdered milk, infant formula, wipes, first-aid kits, saline solution, flashlights with batteries and hygiene products. Visit Instagram.com/floridadreammortgage.
Organizations have been distributing food to people affected by the earthquake that struck La Guaira, Venezuela. (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)
Yoly’s Venezuelan Food: From 9 a.m.-7 p.m. through Saturday, bring medicine and first-aid kits, baby items, flashlights, batteries and pet food to the restaurant, at 3090 S. Jog Road, Greenacres. Visit Facebook.com/yolysvenezuelanfood.
Broward County
Food For The Poor: The relief charity is accepting donations of nonperishable food and hygiene supplies with expiration date of at least one year at its Coconut Creek warehouse, 6401 Lyons Road. Items can be dropped off from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. The group is accepting canned vegetables, fruits, meats and fish, dry rice, beans, lentils and peas, cereals, nuts, seeds and nut butters, vegetable oil, shelf-stable milk products and ready-to-eat snacks. Other items include soap, deodorant and washcloths, tarps, solar lanterns, blankets, diapers for children and adults, feminine hygiene products and children’s activity books and games. Clothing and medications are not accepted. To purchase supplies online, visit the charity’s Venezuela Earthquakes Amazon List at foodforthepoor.org/venezuelalist, or make a cash donation at foodforthepoor.org/helpvenezuela.
A volunteer writes a note to be included with hygiene kits heading to Venezuela at Food For The Poor’s Coconut Creek headquarters. (Food For The Poor/Courtesy)
GW Auto Detailing & Protection: The shop at 651 NE 34th St. in Pompano Beach is serving as a donation drop-off location for relief supplies from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Items needed include bottled water, nonperishable food, baby formula, diapers and wipes, first-aid supplies and medications, hygiene products, blankets and other essential items. Visit Facebook.com/usagreenwash.
City of Miramar: The city has partnered with GEM to collect items that will be directly transported to affected communities in Venezuela. Donations being accepted include nonperishable foods, water, emergency supplies (batteries, blankets, first-aid items and kits), hygiene products, baby supplies, protective gear (KN95 masks, gloves), clean-up and repair supplies. No clothing, shoes, linens or similar items will be accepted. Drop them off 24 hours daily through July 31. Visit miramarfl.gov. The locations are:
• Miramar Police Headquarters, 11765 City Hall Promenade
• Fire Station 19, 6700 Miramar Parkway
• Fire Station 70, 9001 Miramar Parkway
• Fire Station 107, 11811 Miramar Parkway
• Fire Station 84, 14801 SW 27th St.
• Fire Station 100, 2800 SW 184th Ave.
School of Rock West Broward: The music school, 4401 S. Flamingo Road, Units 100-101, Davie, has partnered with GEM to collect nonperishable foods, hygiene products, baby supplies, pet food and emergency essentials during business hours. Visit Facebook.com/sorwestbroward.
Miami-Dade County
Inter Miami CF Foundation: The Community Relief Drive for Venezuela will collect essential relief supplies for families from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday at Nu Stadium, 1000 Stadium Drive, Miami. Follow the signs to the Inter Miami CF Team Store, remain in your vehicle, and volunteers will unload the donations. They also will be accepted at the stadium’s Team Store from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Friday and at the IMCF Stadium Team Store at Chase Stadium, 1350 NW 55th St., Fort Lauderdale, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Visit intermiamicf.com.
Miami Marlins: In addition to a $100,000 donation to GEM, the team is giving fans the opportunity to donate during the July 7-9 series against the Seattle Mariners at loanDepot park, 501 Marlins Way, Miami:
• Donate requested relief items (canned goods, emergency supplies) at collection boxes at the Home Plate Entrance, near intersection of Northwest Sixth Street and 16th Avenue.
• Purchase a $5 ticket through the designated offer at marlins.com/welovevenezuela and bring a requested donation item to the game. For every ticket purchased, the Marlins will make a $5 donation to the We Love Foundation.
The Marlins 50/50 Raffle at all three games will benefit the We Love Foundation.
Multiple counties
Venezuela Earthquake Relief Drive: Law enforcement agencies have partnered with GEM and media personality Mobile Mike for the event from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday at Dolphin Mall, 11401 NW 12th St., Sweetwater (southeast parking lot) and Thursday at the Shops at Pembroke Gardens (trolley stop), 527 SW 145th Terrace. They will collect new generators, solar-powered lights, batteries, gas cans, solar phone chargers, first-aid kits, pop-up tents, yard waste bags, sponges, baby care items, canned and nonperishable foods, blankets, cots, sleeping bags, pet food and hygiene kits. Visit Facebook.com/pembrokepinespolice.
Other sites open daily include:
• Cleveland Clinic, 3100 Weston Road, Weston;
• Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, 528 NW Second St.
• Fort Lauderdale Police Department, 1300 W. Broward Blvd.
• Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd.
• Miami International Mall, 1455 NW 107th Ave., Doral
Chick-fil-A’s Earthquake Relief Drive: Select restaurant locations throughout Broward and Miami-Dade counties are accepting baby essentials, first-aid kits, hygiene products, nonperishable food, bottled water, new blankets, tents, sleeping bags and pet supplies. Drop them off during business hours. For the full list of participating locations, visit Facebook.com and search for “Chick-fil-A at Pines & 160th.”
Sabor Venezolano: The restaurant’s locations in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are donation points for nonperishable food, water, medicine, hygiene products, clothing, cleaning supplies and other essential items during business hours. Visit Facebook.com/saborvenezuela.