A Vero Beach nonprofit organization has collected more than 100 boxes of supplies intended for Venezuela earthquake relief efforts and is now requesting community assistance to transport them. Latinas Nexus Network is partnering with Global Empowerment Mission in Miami to deliver the supplies to Venezuela, which is recovering from a 7.5-magnitude earthquake. The collected boxes contain essential items ranging from diapers to medical supplies.
Lourana Navarro, founder of Latinas Nexus Network, said the community's response to their relief efforts has surpassed what they anticipated. The organization began collecting donations on Friday afternoon and has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
Co-founder Juliana Marino expressed the impact of the community's generosity, saying "The community has come together. They all came forward and brought something. However, the volume of donations has created a logistical challenge that the organization cannot solve alone. As Marino explained, the initial plan to transport supplies in their personal vehicles is no longer feasible. "We thought we were just going to put everything in our cars and we were going to drive to Miami. And there's no more room," she said.
"To move forward with their mission, Latinas Nexus Network is urgently asking the community to donate the use of a box truck measuring between 12 and 16 feet. They need the truck by Thursday so they can load it and deliver the supplies to Global Empowerment Mission in Miami on Friday. The effort holds deep personal significance for Navarro, who was born in Venezuela and has family members living near the earthquake's epicenter. "It really kills me to see thousands, hundreds of thousands of people in the streets," she said, explaining her commitment to the relief effort.
"Despite their determination to help, Navarro and Marino recognize they cannot complete this mission without community support. "We put it together, now we need to deliver," Marino said. Anyone who can help by donating a box truck or providing other assistance should contact Navarro at (954) 205-0700 or Marino at (772) 913-0805. The organization remains focused on ensuring these relief supplies reach the people in Venezuela who need them most.