Florida Volunteers Send 1 Million Pounds to Venezuela

When twin earthquakes killed thousands in Venezuela last month, 18-year-old Alessandra Izaguirre couldn't stop thinking about her grandmother's damaged home in Caracas. So she joined a massive volunteer operation in Doral, Florida that's become a lifeline for survivors.

Nearly three weeks after the devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes struck on June 24, up to 1,000 volunteers still show up daily at Global Empowerment Mission's warehouses. They're sorting donations from across North America and packing care packages that fly to Venezuela every single day.

The numbers tell an incredible story. The earthquakes killed at least 4,500 people, destroyed 190 buildings, and left 17,000 displaced. In response, everyday Americans are showing up with shopping bags full of supplies they bought with their own money.

"They're going to Walmart with their credit card, buying 15 cans of food and bringing it in a shopping bag," said GEM founder Michael Capponi. "It doesn't sound like a lot, but when it's 2,000 people, it's an enormous amount of aid."

The donation lines have gotten so long that police help manage traffic. Two brothers drove a U-Haul full of supplies all the way from Canada. Groups have arrived from Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and California with trucks packed full.

Inside the three warehouses in Doral, where half the population has Venezuelan roots, volunteers fill pallets with diapers and assemble care packages. Each package contains enough food and hygiene items to sustain two people for five days, plus handwritten notes of encouragement that read "Te queremos Venezuela" (We love you, Venezuela).

Mariela Vila, 25, remembers how the Latino community rallied for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017. "That made me feel really well," she said. "So I felt the need to help Venezuela."

Many volunteers have taken vacation days from work to pack boxes. Others arrive straight after their jobs end. "We almost have to kick them out at the end of day," said Billy Richardson, director of U.S. logistics.

The Ripple Effect

The movement has grown beyond individual donors. Major companies including Goya, Walmart, and Amazon now contribute supplies, while professional sports teams have donated funds. But the heart of the operation remains thousands of individuals who felt called to help.

GEM aims to deliver at least 100,000 care packages monthly for the next three to six months. They're already planning for longer term needs like housing as communities begin the slow work of rebuilding.

For volunteers like Izaguirre, every package represents hope reaching home. "Whatever we can get to the Venezuelan public is what counts."