A Vero Beach organization is collecting donations for communities devastated by a massive earthquake in Venezuela, with organizers emphasizing the urgent need for assistance. Latinas Nexus Network is hosting a Venezuela Earthquake Relief Drive to gather essential supplies that will be shipped directly to affected areas. The initiative is being led by founders Lourana Navarro and Juliana Marino, along with Heidi Ramirez.
Navarro, who was born in Venezuela and now lives in Vero Beach, said her own family in Caracas is safe, but surrounding communities have suffered tremendous losses. "When I started seeing the magnitude and that it was a 7.5, I really got scared," Navarro said. She emphasized that the scale of destruction extends far beyond immediate relief needs. "Seeing the devastation, I know this is going to take decades to recover. We as a country don't have the resources," she said. Marino stressed the organization's commitment to directing help where it matters most. "From here, the only thing that I can do is do our best to come together and help them and find different resources so we can get it directly to the people and bring the help that they need," Marino said.
The organizers are partnering with Global Empowerment Mission to ensure supplies reach Venezuela, with a commitment that 100 percent of donations will go through verified humanitarian relief efforts. Marino noted the massive scope of the crisis, stating "We're talking, hundreds of thousands of people that are in need right now." According to Navarro, the most critical shortages are food and shelter. "I can tell you that the worst is the food and the place to sleep, to take a bath, they don't have that right now," Navarro said. The group is collecting powder Gatorade, non-perishable food, baby formula and baby food, diapers in all sizes, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, rain boots, toilet paper, blankets, sleeping bags, flashlights and batteries, heavy duty garbage bags, first aid kits, bandages and gauze, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, face masks, nitrile gloves, and plastic bins with lids.
Donations can be dropped off at 684 Old Dixie Hwy in Vero Beach through Saturday, June 27, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The founders emphasized that the relief drive welcomes support from everyone in the community. "We are asking not just the Hispanic community, we are asking everyone. They really need us," they said. For more information, contact Lourana Navarro at (954) 205-0700, Juliana Marino at (772) 913-0805, or Heidi Ramirez at (772) 213-2747.