ELMHURST, Queens (PIX11) \u2014 As rescue crews continue searching for survivors in Venezuela following a devastating series of earthquakes, members of New York City\u2019s Venezuelan community are stepping up to help loved ones thousands of miles away.<\/p>\n
On Monday, volunteers in Elmhurst spent the day collecting donations, organizing boxes filled with food, medicine, and other emergency supplies destined for communities devastated by the disaster.<\/p>\n
More Local News <\/a><\/p>\n The humanitarian effort comes as Venezuela continues to grapple with the aftermath of twin powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, causing catastrophic damage across northern parts of the country, with coastal areas including La Guaira among the hardest hit.<\/p>\n According to the latest reports, more than 1,400 people have been killed, thousands have been injured, and tens of thousands remain unaccounted for as rescue efforts continue amid widespread destruction.<\/p>\n For many members of Queens\u2019 large Venezuelan community, the tragedy has become deeply personal. \u201cI have a couple of friends from La Guaira. They lost their families, their mom and dad,\u201d said volunteer Estefania Brasarte. \u201cI feel like there\u2019s a lot of pain, and I wish I could do more. I wish I could be there.\u201d<\/p>\n At the Corona Food Bank, organizers say the response from the local community has been overwhelming.<\/p>\n Stay connected with community stories that matter: Visit our homepage <\/a><\/p>\n Founder Evelyn Heilbron showed PIX11 what she says is roughly 30 tons of donated supplies collected in just a matter of days. The donations include bottled water, canned food, medicine, hygiene products, and medical supplies, all expected to be transported to Miami before being shipped directly to Venezuela.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hospitals and institutions in the impacted areas have collapsed,\u201d organizers said, stressing the urgent need for humanitarian support.<\/p>\n New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, who represents the district, says the biggest challenge now is getting the supplies to South Florida so they can be transported overseas as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are hoping to be able to fly it to Venezuela, hopefully with the generosity of one of the airlines,\u201d Ramos said. \u201cBut we are also ready and looking for people who are willing to drive it down. We need water, we need purification devices, we need medical supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n While rescue and recovery efforts continue overseas, neighbors in Queens say helping however they can feels like the least they can do for a country now facing what could be a years-long recovery process. \u201cI\u2019m amazed by all the support, and I\u2019m really grateful,\u201d one Brasarte said. \u201cWe need it. I appreciate every single person helping.\u201d<\/p>\n To join the effort, you can volunteer in person at 93-15 Corona Ave., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can also reach out to the organization at\u00a0contact@communityccso.org<\/a>\u00a0and 332-228-8525.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n