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Hundreds of Venezuelans residing in South Florida gathered this Friday at the donation center of Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) in Doral to collect emergency supplies for the victims of the earthquakes that devastated Venezuela on June 24.
The lines of vehicles with donations in front of the GEM headquarters, located at 1850 Northwest 84th Avenue in Doral, exceeded an hour of waiting by 3:20 in the afternoon, according to reports from the scene. The response surpassed all the organizers' expectations.
"The response has been massive. Extraordinary, truly not just regarding the issue of Venezuelans, but all Latin Americans in general. And on the other side, it's full too; look at how we're packed here, we continue to be full," described one of the volunteers present at the collection center.
The most urgent items are drinking water, non-perishable food, medicines, hygiene products, baby supplies, isopropyl alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide.
GEM also accepts cash donations through its website to purchase supplies directly in Venezuela, as the logistics of transportation involves high costs.
Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade, appeared at the GEM headquarters to support the collective effort. "We need funding because it costs to send things, and we can also buy items over there that are needed by those who are suffering," she noted.
Christi Fraga, the mayor of Doral, was also present, highlighting the direct connection that links her city to Venezuela. "This is a very difficult time for our community in Doral. We have a very, very strong Venezuelan community, and there are many families that are directly affected. This has hit very close to home," she stated.
Doral is home to more than 30% of residents of Venezuelan origin—around 27,000 in a city of approximately 76,000 inhabitants—and is popularly known as "Doralzuela." Miami-Dade County as a whole houses over 100,000 Venezuelans, the largest community of that origin in the United States.
The pain of those who donated this Friday has a personal story. "I wanted to come and donate drinking water, which is what is most needed right now. I have people—friends, close ones, family—who are missing," a Venezuelan volunteer shared while packing supplies.
Another participant encapsulated the prevailing sentiment: "I can't be in my country right now helping in the way I would like, and I felt that this was the least I could do at this moment."
GEM plans to transport supplies by air to Venezuela, including alternative airports, as the Maiquetía International Airport has suffered critical damage to its infrastructure. The organization operates in coordination with its local partner "I Love Venezuela."
The official toll of the earthquakes has risen to 920 dead and over 3,360 injured, while the UN estimates 6.76 million people affected. The earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 are the strongest recorded in the north of the country in 126 years.
In addition to GEM, as reported by Univision Miami, there are other active donation sites in South Florida: the lobby of the Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor's Office (2700 NW 87th Ave), the Doral Legacy Park Community Center (11400 NW 82 St), and the Arepazo restaurant (10191 NW 58th St), which is open 24 hours a day. GEM accepts donations Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
"We continue to work for all those in a state of extreme crisis, hoping that, well, God will do His work," said Fedalis Rodríguez, a volunteer at GEM and a resident of South Florida.
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