How to help Venezuela from NC: Reputable fundraisers, local organizations

On Wednesday, June 24, 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude twin earthquakes devastated Venezuela within a minute of each other. The death toll in Caracas, the country’s capital, and surrounding areas has risen to around 1,400 people with tens of thousands still missing.

Locally and nationally, groups are rallying to provide support in the crucial hours following the historic natural disaster. The earthquakes are the most significant in over a century, Science.com reported.

A Cary-based church, Iglesia Cristiana de Cary, has partnered with nonprofit organizations in Venezuela to collect emergency supplies for the country. Enlace Latino NC reported that the Venezuelan population in the state was around 10,000 in 2022.

“We’re collecting all the first-aid needed items as well as batteries and things of that nature,” Pastor Eliezer Hernandez told ABC11, The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner. “Also, we’re sending lots of canned food and water.”

The church is accepting donations throughout the week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Cary location (555 SW Maynard Road).

How to donate to Venezuela

Many national and international organizations are accepting donations for on-the-ground assistance. The instability adds to an already deep crisis of economic stagnation and limited public services in the region.

• Unicef estimated that 1.8 million people including 680,000 children need humanitarian assistance after the earthquakes. The seismic shocks have left communities without power, cut off from hospitals and at risk from continuing tremors.
• The International Federation of Red Cross is collecting donations to send to the Venezuelan Red Cross to continue their search and rescue efforts. The IRFC ensures accountability for all contributions.
• Project Hope is a humanitarian aid organization that supplies access to healthcare for people most in need. To inspire more donations, a group of donors has created a matching gift challenge, where every $1 donated creates $4 in impact up to $200,000 until midnight on July 3.
• World Central Kitchen, founded by Jose Andres, is a nonprofit food relief organization. They began serving meals as quickly as possible in Caracas after the destruction of buildings and homes. Along with local partners, WCK “ensure that families get the meals they need as they continue to work towards healing.”
• The I Love Venezuela Foundation has created an emergency relief campaign to support affected families and communities With a goal of $6.2 million, they plan to supply food, water, medical support, hygiene kits, shelter supplies, logistics and direct support for vulnerable families in affected areas.
• The United Nations Disaster Relief Agency is working with Venezuelan authorities to determine urgent necessities and place their own search and rescue teams on the ground. They are taking donations.
• Save the Children is working to help affected populations through food assistance, access to drinking water, education and child protective services. The organization estimates over 16 million people are living in the affected zone.

This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 4:42 PM.