arts
South Florida volunteers rush aid to Venezuela after devastating earthquakes: "Everybody is turning out in huge support."
By Steve Maugeri at CBS4 Miami
· June 28, 2026
· 2 min read
For Andrea Laluz, volunteering Sunday at Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) was personal.While her own family and friends in Venezuela are safe, she said many others remain missing after buildings collapsed and entire neighborhoods were left uninhabitable."There are a lot of them that are missing. The
Key takeaway They don't know where they are," Laluz said.
Why this matters in The Miami
The outpouring of support from South Florida's community, particularly the Venezuelan community, is a testament to the strong ties between Miami and Latin America. Miami's unique position as a hub for Latin American and Caribbean communities has created a network of individuals with personal connections to the affected regions. As a result, the response to the earthquakes in Venezuela has been swift and generous, with donations exceeding $5 million. The relief efforts are also a reflection of the city's experience with natural disasters, including hurricanes and flooding, which has fostered a sense of solidarity and empathy among residents. The ability of organizations like Global Empowerment Mission to mobilize resources and ship supplies to Venezuela is also facilitated by Miami's proximity to the Caribbean and its well-established transportation infrastructure. As the relief efforts continue, it will be important to watch how the community sustains its support and how local organizations work together to address the ongoing needs of the affected communities.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: arts ·
Published: June 28, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? For Andrea Laluz, volunteering Sunday at Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) was personal.While her own family and friends in Venezuela are safe, she said many others remain missing after buildings collapsed and entire neighborhoods were left uninhabitable."There are a lot of them that are missing. The
When was this published? This article was first published on June 28, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Steve Maugeri at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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