Sanford mother and daughter launch a donation campaign for Venezuelan earthquake victims

SANFORD, Fla. – Weeks after back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast, a Sanford mother and daughter are turning their home into a relief center – collecting donations and mobilizing their community to help those left behind.

On June 24, two major earthquakes devastated La Guaira, the state most affected by the disaster. At least 2,295 people have been killed, thousands remain missing, and Venezuelan officials are struggling to collect, identify and preserve bodies for families still searching for answers.

Thatiana Neal and her daughter, Katherine Gutierrez, set up a donation tent and spread the word through social media and word of mouth, urging Sanford neighbors to drop off supplies.

“We are from Venezuela,” said Tatiana. “So, this is the least we can do to help our people.”

A personal connection to the disaster

The family has made Central Florida their home for 24 years, eight of which they lived in Sanford. But their roots in Venezuela keep them deeply connected to the crisis unfolding thousands of miles away.

Thatyana said her family has survived the earthquakes, but it’s hard to hold on to the comfort that comes with that knowledge.

“Our family is fine. They are fine. They are afraid. But there are a lot of families that are not. It’s like you can’t have the comfort of knowing your family is OK, because tens of thousands of families are not OK. They have lost everything. They have lost people,” she said.

Gutierrez says they have been looking for ways to help their homeland since the disaster struck.

“I came here when I was 12 years old, and I don’t think we’ve ever felt such a passion for us to help or come back or connect with our country since we left. So, this is our little way to give back and help and connect and reconnect with our country,” Gutierrez said.

What is needed urgently

Thatyana said that baby supplies are among the most in-demand items at the moment.

Diapers, baby wipes, bottles, milk and formula top the list, along with hygiene products and over-the-counter medications. Thatiana said earthquake survivors are living on the streets without access to basic necessities.

A donation tent has been set up near Park Avenue and 19th Street in Sanford, where items are protected from the elements and closely monitored by the family.

How do donations reach Venezuela?

The family says all items collected will be delivered to the Global Empowering Mission to transport the donations to Venezuela. The organization has committed to delivering 15,000 pallets of supplies. Representatives will travel to the Sanford area to collect donations and transport them to Miami, where they will then be shipped to Venezuela.

The drive continues

There is no final date for the collection efforts, as the need in Venezuela will extend for several months, Thatiana said.

“We will continue to do this here until people get tired of us with these signs,” she said. “We are here until we need them. The help Venezuela needs will be there for months and months to come.”

In addition to delivering supplies locally, the family has encouraged the community to donate to organizations such as World Central Kitchen, UNICEF, Hope, and the Solar Foundation, as well as a GoFundMe campaign tied to the relief effort.

“Donate,” said Tatiana. “Just donate.” “If you see signs or people on the streets and even local businesses, just go there and stop for a bit. Anything helps.”

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