Pines police to host donation drive for Venezuela earthquake relief. How to help
The Pembroke Pines Police Department is joining neighboring municipalities, businesses and residents in collecting relief supplies for people affected by last week’s catastrophic double earthquakes in Venezuela.
The department is partnering with Mobile Mike, the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) and the Florida Highway Patrol to host a series of donation drives.
The Pembroke Pines drive will take place on Thursday, July 2, at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, 527 SW 145th Terrace. Donations will be accepted from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The efforts come after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela’s northern coast at 6:04 p.m. on June 24, followed by a 7.5 less than a minute later. Caracas and neighboring regions such as La Guaira suffered significant damage and casualties.
Rescue efforts have been focusing particularly on La Guaira, the hardest-hit state in a country long mired in a deep political and economic crisis.
Early Monday, June 29, a 4.6-magnitude aftershock at a depth of 6 miles hit north of Caracas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
As of Monday, the death toll had reached close to 1,500 with hundreds of collapsed buildings.
Since June 24, first responders and Venezuelan residents have been racing against time to rescue people trapped beneath fallen buildings and debris.
The Pembroke Pines Police Department joins businesses and residents across South Florida, including several in Pines, that quickly mobilized humanitarian aid efforts for those affected by the natural disaster.
“This humanitarian crisis continues to affect millions of families who are struggling to access necessities such as food, medicine, and essential supplies,” the department posted on its Instagram. “This initiative is our opportunity to come together as a community and provide meaningful support to those in desperate need.”
In addition to the Pembroke Pines drive at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, collections will be held from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, at Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd. in Aventura; and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at Miami International Mall, 1455 NW 107th Ave. in Doral.
The three donation sites are accepting the following supplies:
- New generators, solar-powered lights, batteries and gas cans
- Solar phone chargers
- Professional fire-aid kits
- Pop up tents, yard waste bags, industrial sponges
- Baby care items: diapers, food, wipes (only unopened boxed items; no single items)
- Canned foods, peel-off lid preferably with 1+ year expiration date
- Nonperishable foods, with 1+ year expiration date
- New blankets, cots, work gloves, sleeping bags, air mattresses, tarps (no opened items)
- Large unopened bags of pet food or full boxes of canned pet food (no opened items)
- Hygiene kits: Hairbrush, tooth brush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, wash cloth and deodorant
Pines Running Co. is also collecting donation during its Wednesday evening group run, with supplies going toward Thursday’s relief drive.
The collected supplies will be distributed through GEM.
