North Country Immigrant Allies (NCIA) is gathering supplies to send to Venezuela following last month's devastating earthquakes. The group is prioritizing new tents and sleeping bags for people who lost their homes, along with medical and baby supplies, flashlights, and non-perishable food.
NCIA coordinator Keela Grimmette said the effort was driven by requests from local Venezuelan communities. "We were hearing from the community and a very specific thing that they needed," Grimmette said. "We really have been encouraged by the ways that they are so supportive of each other and very aware of the ways that they can kind of bond together during really hard times."
A primary collection day is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the CVPH Medical Center main entrance on Beekman Street in Plattsburgh. The activism group Show Up is assisting with the drive. Additional drop-off locations across the North Country will be announced in the coming weeks, with NCIA coordinating with other volunteer groups.
NEK will be looking into the shipping logistics and how the supplies are distributed once they reach Venezuela.
Originally reported by WPTZ NBC5.
Photo: Gustavo Fring via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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