Venezuela Earthquake Donations From Mobile Reach La Guaira Medical Tent

MOBILE, Ala. — Boxes of Venezuela earthquake donations collected across the Mobile area have reached La Guaira, Venezuela, where they were handed over to what organizers describe as the only tent still providing medical care in the area. The effort, led by the Mobile International Festival and a group of Venezuelan natives living on the Gulf Coast, took roughly two and a half months to get the supplies into the country.

“When they find out that Venezuelans in Mobile organize this to help them, they were very thankful, they were not expecting this,” said Yohana Carillo, a Venezuela native and the drive’s main organizer.

Organizers say the work is far from over. About 20 more boxes are still waiting to be shipped, and the festival continues to accept donations and raise money to cover the cost of getting them overseas.

How the Venezuela Earthquake Donations Effort Began

The collection drive started in June, shortly after news broke that Venezuela had been struck by earthquakes. Carillo described the disaster as “a double earthquake in the area of Caracas, in La Guaira, which is the part of the Caribbean area for Venezuela.”

“The destruction was massive. The whole city was completely destroyed,” she said.

Almost immediately, the Mobile International Festival and members of the local Venezuelan community began organizing. They put out the call for supplies and set about raising money to ship whatever they collected.

Carillo has lived in Mobile for the past 25 years and has served as the drive’s main organizer. She said the people who received the boxes back home could not be more thankful for what Mobile-area residents had done.

Donors Came From Across Mobile County

The drive drew support from well beyond the immediate Venezuelan community. Ester de Aguiar, executive director of the Mobile International Festival, said people traveled from across the county to help.

“We had people coming from way West Mobile, Semmes, Wilmer to drop off a donation, and some came several times,” de Aguiar said.

Donated items included canned goods, diapers and medical supplies, among other necessities. In all, organizers said the drive produced about 5,000 items, packed into more than 27 boxes.

On top of the goods themselves, the group raised almost $2,000. That money went toward the cost of shipping the boxes, which is often one of the biggest hurdles for small, community-based relief efforts sending aid internationally.

A Long Road to La Guaira

Getting the supplies into Venezuela was not quick. Carillo said the country’s ongoing difficulties slowed the process considerably.

“Because of the crisis that the country is facing right now, it took us about two months and a half for the boxes to make it there,” she said.

Once they arrived, the boxes were delivered to a medical tent in La Guaira that Carillo said is the only one still offering medical help in the area. For residents who have lost homes and access to basic services, supplies like medicine, diapers and food can make a significant difference.

About La Guaira

La Guaira is a coastal state on Venezuela’s central Caribbean shore, just north of the capital, Caracas, and separated from it by the mountains of the Ávila range. The state, formerly known as Vargas, is home to the country’s main international airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport at Maiquetía, as well as the Port of La Guaira, one of Venezuela’s most important seaports.

The narrow strip of land between the mountains and the sea has a history of natural disasters. In December 1999, torrential rains triggered catastrophic mudslides and flash floods in the region, killing thousands of people in what became known as the Vargas tragedy, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern Venezuelan history.

Casualties and Damage From the June Earthquakes

Just under 7,000 people were killed in the June earthquakes, and 18,000 people remain without shelter, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The United Nations also estimates the damage at around $37 billion.

Those figures help explain why organizers in Mobile say continued support is needed months after the disaster first made headlines.

“Venezuelans Are Suffering,” Organizer Says

Carillo said that while those who received the Mobile donations were deeply grateful, one shipment cannot solve the problems people there are facing every day.

“The reality back home is totally different. Venezuelans are suffering. They don’t have lights. They don’t have any resources. The minimum salary is $3. Imagine what you can do with $3 to support your family,” Carillo said.

Venezuela has endured years of economic and political turmoil, including severe inflation, shortages of food and medicine, and widespread power outages. The United Nations has reported that millions of Venezuelans have left the country over the past decade, making the Venezuelan displacement crisis one of the largest in the world. Many have settled in the United States, including in communities along the Gulf Coast.

For Venezuelans living abroad, efforts like the Mobile drive are often a way to stay connected to family and neighbors back home while offering tangible help.

About the Mobile International Festival

The Mobile International Festival is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the many cultures represented in the Mobile area. The festival dates back to 1983 and has grown to feature more than 70 countries through food, music, dance, crafts and cultural exhibits.

The festival places a strong emphasis on education. Each year, school days give students from area districts a chance to tour the exhibits on field trips before the event opens to the general public. The organization relies on donations and sponsorships from the local community to fund its work.

This year’s festival is scheduled for Nov. 18-21, 2026, at The Grounds in Mobile, according to the organization’s website. Nov. 18, 19 and 20 are set aside for elementary, middle and high school students, respectively, and Saturday, Nov. 21, is open to the public.

The Venezuela relief drive reflects the festival’s broader mission of connecting Mobile residents with the cultures and communities around the world that many of their neighbors call home.

How to Help With Venezuela Earthquake Relief

The Mobile International Festival still has about 20 boxes to send to Venezuela and is continuing to collect donations and raise money for shipping. Anyone interested in contributing can contact the Mobile International Festival directly.

• Website: mobileinternationalfestival.org
• Phone: 251-285-4003
• Email: [email protected]

Because shipping costs are a major part of getting aid overseas, monetary donations can be just as important as physical goods. Donors who want to give items should check with organizers first to find out what is most needed and what can be shipped.

Tips for Giving to Disaster Relief

Whenever disaster strikes overseas, a few common-sense steps can help make sure donations do the most good:

• Give to groups you know. Local organizations with direct connections to affected communities can often confirm where supplies end up.
• Ask what is needed. Relief organizers often have specific lists, and unneeded items can take up valuable shipping space.
• Consider cash. Money allows organizers to pay for shipping and, when possible, buy supplies closer to the disaster zone.
• Watch for scams. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for donations, especially through social media, text messages or phone calls from unfamiliar groups.

What Comes Next

Organizers plan to keep the drive going until the remaining boxes are on their way. Carillo said her country could not be more thankful for what Mobile has already done, but she stressed that the help cannot stop now.

For the Venezuelan community in Mobile, the first shipment’s arrival in La Guaira is proof that a neighborhood effort on the Gulf Coast can reach people thousands of miles away. With roughly 20 boxes still to go, organizers are hoping the community that showed up in June will keep showing up.