Published: June 26, 2026

Standing with Venezuela: A Unified Community Response

The recent earthquakes in Venezuela has deeply impacted countless families, including many within our South Florida community.

As information continues to evolve, Americas Community Center is committed to serving as a trusted source of communication by sharing verified information, reliable resources, and coordinated ways our community can help. Our goal is to connect residents with the organizations and partners leading the humanitarian response while encouraging everyone to work together through a unified effort.

One Community. One Mission.
Thursday June 25, our Founder, Fabio A. Andrade, participated in the City of Doral’s press conference announcing the coordinated humanitarian response for Venezuela. During the event, local officials, nonprofit leaders, and community organizations came together with a shared commitment to support those affected by this tragedy through one unified relief effort.

Americas Community Center is proud to help share this coordinated message so our community knows where and how to contribute through trusted partners.

Doral and Weston Working Together
Following the announcement, we also spoke with officials from the City of Weston regarding the local relief efforts. Mayor Peggy Brown emphasized the importance of working in unison with the City of Doral, which is spearheading this regional humanitarian response.

To help maintain a coordinated effort, the Mayor mentioned Commissioner Fabio should continue leading the Venezuela relief initiative. He will help ensure that collection efforts taking place throughout Weston remain aligned with the regional strategy being led alongside the City of Doral and its partners.

This collaborative approach allows both cities to work hand in hand, avoiding duplication of efforts while ensuring that donated supplies are organized efficiently and directed where they are needed most.

South Florida’s Relief Hub

To ensure donations are handled efficiently, Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is serving as the primary logistics hub for South Florida’s humanitarian response and are excepting volunteers. 

All of the community collection sites listed below are coordinating with GEM, where donations are received, sorted, organized, and prepared for direct shipment to relief partners assisting communities impacted by the earthquake in Venezuela.

By working through one coordinated logistics network, we can help ensure supplies move quickly, efficiently, and directly to those who need them most.

By working through one coordinated logistics network, we can help ensure supplies move quickly, efficiently, and directly to those who need them most.

Items being collected:

While the official list currently includes bottled water, we want to share an important update.

Fabio recently spoke with Doral Commissioner Rafael Pineyro, and the team is actively working on securing water purification tablets and portable water filters to help families safely use available local water sources.

For that reason, we encourage our community to prioritize donating the other essential items on the official needs list rather than bottled water at this time.

Please stay tuned for additional updates regarding the water distribution plan. As always, we will continue sharing verified information as it becomes available so our community can provide the greatest impact.

GEM – Global Empowerment Mission
1850 NW 84th Ave. #100 Doral, FL 33126
Drop-off Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm (weekdays)
Saturday, June 27 – 10am-4pm

Volunteer Opportunities with GEM
9:00am-12:00pm
1:00pm – 4:00pm 

Due to the overwhelming support from our community, GEM is asking that donors please avoid bringing donations directly to their warehouse at this time.

Instead, we encourage everyone to use one of the designated drop-off locations listed below. These collection sites will consolidate donations and coordinate truck deliveries directly to the GEM warehouse, helping keep the relief effort organized and efficient.

ALL OFFICIAL DROP-OFF LOCATIONS ARE LISTED BELOW.

GEM Drop-off Locations:

Weston Town Center (Bell Tower)
1760 Bell Tower Ln. Weston, FL 33326
Sunday, June 28, 2026 (only)
Drop-off Hours: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Fabiana Jimenez – (754) 248-1263
*DRIVE UP ONLY*

Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Office Lobby
2700 NW 87th Ave. Doral, FL 33172
Drop-off Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm (weekdays)
Saturday, June 27 8:00am – 5:00pm

El Arepazo
10191 NW 58th St. Doral, FL 33178
Drop-off Hours: Monday-Sunday 24/7

Doral Legacy Park Community Center
11400 NW 82 Street. Doral FL 33178
Drop-off Hours: 5:00pm-9:00pm (weekdays)
8:00am – 5:00pm (weekends)

Inter Miami CF Team Store at Nu Stadium
1000 Stadium Drive. Miami, FL 33125
Friday, June 26 – Friday July 3rd (9:00am – 3:00pm)
Carin Leon Concert
Sunday, June 28 (6:00pm-8:30pm)

Caracas Bakery
7884 NW 52nd St.
Doral, FL 33166

Click here for more GEM Approved locations. 

Additional Drop-off Locations:

There are additional locations who are collecting around the City of Weston that are working with GEM and other sources to send additional items such as Medical Supplies.  Each location have their own list.

Panna Express Weston Road
2620 Weston Road. Weston, FL 33331
(954) 618-4017
Drop-off Hours: 7:00am – 10:00pm
PANNA’S COLLECTION LIST

Panna Express Weston Town Center
1731 Main Street. Weston, FL 33326
(954) 372-1944
Drop-off Hours: 7:00am – 10:00pm
PANNA’S COLLECTION LIST

PaleoLife (St. Vicente de Paul Weston)
2950 Glades Circle, Ste 10.  Weston, FL 33327
June 26, 27, 28, 2026
Drop-off Hours: 9:00am-6:00am
Rosa Emilia – (954) 850-5607
ST. VICENTE DE PAUL COLLECTION LIST

YMCA Weston
20201 Saddle Club Rd. Weston, FL 33327
June 27 and 28
Drop-off Hours: 7:00am – 4:00pm
ROTARY CLUB COLLECTION LIST