As the Venezuelan community rebuilds after the June earthquakes, these Miami-Dade drop-off sites are collecting essential supplies for families in need
Cars have lined up for blocks outside a warehouse in Doral since the moment two catastrophic earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, and the line has not really stopped since. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes killed hundreds of people, displaced thousands more, and left communities across the country without stable access to food, clean water, and medical care. For Miami-Dade County, home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities outside Venezuela itself, the response has been immediate and deeply personal. Residents across the county are now looking for reliable, verified places to bring donations for Venezuela earthquake relief, and Calle Ocho News has compiled eight active collection sites, along with exactly what each one is asking the community to bring.
Miami-Dade's Venezuelan Community Mobilizes After the Earthquakes
Doral, often nicknamed "Doralzuela" for its concentration of Venezuelan families and businesses, quickly became the operational center of the local response. Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), a Doral-based disaster relief organization with experience across dozens of countries, was activated within hours and has since partnered with the U.S. Department of State to move relief supplies into Venezuela. Hundreds of volunteers, many of them Venezuelan themselves, have packed pallets of food, medicine, and baby supplies around the clock at GEM's warehouse, describing the effort as something the community needed to do together.
That energy quickly spread beyond Doral. Miami-Dade County government, local fire rescue stations, sports franchises, and community businesses have since opened their own collection points, giving residents across the county a nearby place to drop off supplies rather than driving to a single hub. Because needs and hours can shift quickly in an active relief effort, it's worth confirming details directly with each site before making the trip.
Eight Places Accepting Donations Across Miami-Dade County
1. Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) Headquarters — 1850 NW 84th Ave, Suite 100, Doral. Open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Collecting non-perishable food, hygiene products, baby items, diapers, bottled water, and first aid supplies. GEM says monetary donations remain the most effective way to help.
2. El Arepazo — 10191 NW 58th St, Doral. Open 24 hours a day. Accepting nonperishable food, baby formula, bottled water, prescription and over-the-counter medications, first aid supplies, and pet food.
3. Miami-Dade County Tax Collector drop-off network — 11 locations countywide, including Coral Gables, Downtown Miami, Kendall, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Hialeah Gardens, and Florida City. Open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Collecting first aid kits, emergency gear such as flashlights, batteries, and work gloves, and baby care items like diapers.
4. Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Office — 2700 NW 87th Ave, Doral. Open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5. Doral Legacy Park Community Center — 11400 NW 82nd St. Open weekday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
6. Inter Miami CF Team Store at Nu Stadium — open through Friday, July 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
7. Carlow Park — 10601 SW 5th St, Sweetwater. Open daily from 8 a.m., accepting the same core relief categories as other sites: non-perishable food, water, hygiene items, first aid supplies, and baby items.
8. loanDepot Park — home of the Miami Marlins. Collection boxes will be set up at the Home Plate Entrance for the team's July 7–9 homestand against the Seattle Mariners, with fans who bring requested relief items eligible for a discounted $5 ticket offer.
Miami-Dade's response to the Venezuela earthquakes reflects what this community consistently shows during a crisis: a willingness to show up for each other quickly and without hesitation. As drop-off windows continue to shift with need, residents are encouraged to check each site's hours before heading out and to consider a monetary donation to an established organization when time is limited. Subscribe to Calle Ocho News for weekly Miami-Dade updates on how the community is responding, and contact Pressnet Corp. for advertising, sponsorship, and partnership opportunities to support local coverage like this.