FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Broward College Seahawk family has rallied to donate food and supplies to assist the survivors of two devastating earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24. 

Eight donation dropoff areas ran at Broward College locations across the county from June 30 to July 10. The donations included canned food, hygiene products, pet food, baby food and supplies, and paper products. 

“So many of us in South Florida have family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and classmates from Venezuela,” said President and CEO Torey Alston. “Broward County is home to one of the largest and fastest-growing populations of Venezuelans in the United States and I am proud of the Broward College Family for stepping up to support this cause.” 

More than 35 boxes of supplies were sorted at a College warehouse, which represented the most collected items for any natural disaster donation drive by the College, according to Elaina Moran, director of Institutional Events. The donated items were transferred to Global Empowerment Mission (GEMS), a nonprofit organization that has run disaster relief missions globally since 2010. Volunteer opportunities are available at GEM’s Doral warehouse here. 

Over the years, Broward College has mobilized to collect donations in response to multiple natural disasters. A 2025 effort collected supplies for Caribbean nations after Hurricane Melissa. In 2024, the College collected food and supplies to assist two sister institutions in the Florida College System that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. 

-BC-