DORAL, FLA. (WSVN) – One week after two devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, South Florida continues to show support for those impacted and in desperate need of aid, as rescue efforts slowly segue into recovery efforts.<\/p>\n
As donations for the South American country continue to pour in with little sign of slowing down, Inter Miami hosted a supply drive on Wednesday at Nu Stadium in Miami and Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen this happened in Venezuela, we said, \u2018How can we help?’\u201d said Maria Rey, director of the Inter Miami Foundation. \u201cWe said, \u2018Why don\u2019t we bring together a day where we can have a drive-thru event, where we can have volunteers come here and help us sort items?\u2019 That way, we can take those trucks to gym, and it\u2019s easier for them when they get those donations over there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The drive-thru collections happen as donations continue to pour in at the Global Empowerment Mission warehouse in Doral.<\/p>\n
The humanitarian aid nonprofit has been flying in pallets of supplies to Venezuela just days after the devastating temblors shook the northern part of the country.<\/p>\n
Alistar Kiyingi, GEM\u2019s corporate relations manager, spoke with 7News about their ongoing relief efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve committed to over $20 million worth of aid, and we\u2019re receiving a lot of donations from the community in our warehouse in Doral, and there\u2019s long lines for people to bring the donations, so having drop-off centers like this one is super helpful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Back in Venezuela, foreign aid and rescue teams offer a glimmer of hope in a place where hope is hard to come by.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, rescue crews pulled a 3-year-old little boy pulled out from underneath a collapsed building near Caracas.<\/p>\n
While time is running out to find survivors, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue\u2019s Florida Task Force 1, also on the ground, is working alongside the U.S. State Department and other first responders from South Florida. They\u2019re hoping to find more survivors or some closure to those still waiting on word.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are here waiting for them to give us our bodies so we can take them home. May everything be as God wills,\u201d said Venezuelan resident Jos\u00e9 Gregorio Rinc\u00f3n \u00c1vila in Spanish.<\/p>\n
Over 30 countries have volunteers on the front lines, using K-9s and drones to search as rescue efforts slowly shift into recovery efforts.<\/p>\n
The United Nations\u2019 World Food Programme is in La Guaira, the most impacted area, setting up temporary feeding centers.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecovery will be a marathon, not a sprint,\u201d said Marianela Gonzalez, a communications officer for the World Food Programme. \u201cSustained support for the people of Venezuela is critical, and it\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The United States is contributing a total of $300 million to the relief fund, in addition to hundreds of search-and-rescue personnel. South Florida is sending its own contingency.<\/p>\n
Drone video shows the GEM\u2019s warehouse in Doral, as volunteers have been working tirelessly \u2014 sorting supplies and putting them in pallets so they can be flown to Venezuela as soon as possible. <\/p>\n
I see a lot of hope, personally, with this, but unfortunately, we have 50,000 people that are still missing, and that\u2019s the main focus right now,\u201d said GEM founder and president Michael Capponi.<\/p>\n
At the warehouse in Doral, boxes are still being packed, to be prepared to be sent to Caracas.<\/p>\n
\u201cUs getting all this aid over there gives them a huge bounce in their step, because they see how much America cares, the Venezuelan community that\u2019s come around has been amazing. This is unprecedented, we\u2019ve never had so many people come to GEM like this.\u201d said Larry, a volunteer at GEM. <\/p>\n
Teams from GEM have been on the ground in Venezuela for days, distributing more than 235,000 pounds of aid, which is more than $1.2 million in value. Items that were dropped off on one day are already in route to Caracas the next day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn South Florida, we always respond to our neighbors in need, and Venezuela right now,\u201d said U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez,<\/p>\n
But the effort extends far beyond GEM, as people pack drives across South Florida to do what they can to help the people of Venezuela.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need a lot of help that we can get. Monetary donations are very helpful, because we also need to sustain the operations done in Venezuela,\u201d said Kiyingi.<\/p>\n
Officials with GEM stress they are not accepting water, glass items or clothing at this time. They encourage those wishing to donate items to bring baby diapers, camping gear like tents, medical supplies and wheelchairs.<\/p>\n
In addition to GEM\u2019s Doral headquarters, other drop-off locations include Doral City Hall and Nu Stadium, For more information, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n