Solidarity Requires Responsibility
How to Truly Help Venezuela Right Now
In the wake of the devastating natural disaster in Venezuela, our collective urge to help is our greatest strength. But love and empathy must be matched by strategy. For our support to deliver real, immediate relief on the ground, our solidarity must be deliberate, informed, and highly responsible.
Before you buy, pack, or drop off supplies, please review this critical operational update:
Physical Supplies Face Major Delays
Severe structural damage to international airport infrastructure in Venezuela has severely compromised transportation logistics. Physical donations collected at local centers will take several weeks to arrive and be distributed.
If you choose to donate physical goods, please note that collection center hours and availability in New York shift rapidly.
- Action Item: Always call ahead to confirm a location is actively accepting donations before traveling.
- Live Center Directory: For an updated list of active collection centers, monitor Venezolanos en New York on Instagram.
Target Real Needs
Sending unrequested items (like random clothing) can unintentionally overwhelm local logistics without solving the immediate crisis.
- Action Item: Actively reach out to your relatives, friends, neighbors, or trusted grassroots networks in the affected zones. Ask them directly: “What exactly do you need today?” This simple question ensures that every ounce of aid answers an urgent, verified medical or survival gap.
Direct Financial Support is the Fastest Route
Because mass transit and shipping channels are bottlenecked, sending direct financial assistance to loved ones or organized neighborhood networks in highly impacted areas, such as Caracas or La Guaira (Vargas State), is undeniably the fastest and most reliable way to deliver relief right now.
- Action Item: Bypass the shipping delays and provide immediate agency to those on the ground by visiting HelpThemDirectly.org.
- Safety & Security: Protect your generosity from scams. During a crisis, digital networks become a primary vehicle for fraud. Before you transfer any funds, protect your donation by reading the essential guidelines at DonarSeguro.com/en/safety.
Helping is an extraordinary human act. Helping responsibly multiplies its power.
In solidarity and shared commitment,
Niurka Meléndez, Héctor Arguinzones, and the VIA Team
A Note from Our Team
Emotional Support & Crisis Response
Community & Emotional Care
In the wake of this disaster, VIA continues to offer free online and in-person peer support groups, alongside 1-on-1 emotional containment sessions to help our community navigate this painful crisis. We have been actively holding these spaces since the news broke.
Navigating This Crisis Together
This is a profoundly challenging time. Like many in our community, members of our core volunteer team and leadership are still waiting to hear from missing family members, friends, and neighbors in Venezuela. We are praying closely for their safety and lives.
We Ask for Your Patience
Because we are personally navigating these circumstances while managing our community response, our email and phone replies may be slower than usual. Thank you for your grace and understanding.