By Elias Taye

The distance between Maine and Venezuela is measured in thousands of miles, but for Karina Muchacho, the devastation of a recent major earthquake felt painfully close. Living in Bangor for the past two and a half years, Karina watched the crisis unfold from afar and knew she couldn’t stand by.

Karina, who is a native of Venezuela, told Amjambo Africa in an interview on July 2, 2026 that the earthquake has caused an immediate need of medicine, food, clothing, and diapers for both infants and the elderly, among others. She then put out a call to the local Latino community in Bangor, unsure of what the response would be. What happened next exceeded her expectations.

In just a single day, a pop-up collection effort in Bangor yielded two entire carloads of critical supplies.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The mobilization was incredible,” Karina shared, expressing a deep gratitude for the collaborative response from the local Latino community. “We saw people coming together so quickly to contribute whatever they could.”

Meanwhile, down in Portland, Francisca Smith, a local educator and founder of the community platform Chispa, activated her own network. Using the platform, she galvanized Southern Maine’s community members and businesses to mirror the northern collection efforts, ensuring a statewide pipeline of support.

Gathering supplies, however, was only half the battle. Shipping physical goods to a crisis zone in South America is notoriously expensive and logistically fragile. Francisca recalled a past relief effort where shipping costs alone skyrocketed to $1,000 for a single shipment.

To bypass these prohibitive costs, the team developed a strategic shipping pipeline. They partnered with Solidarity Hearts (Corazones Solidarios), a Massachusetts-based organization. By driving the Bangor and Portland donations down to Massachusetts, they could consolidate shipments through a trusted partner, ensuring the aid goes directly into the hands of those who need it most.

To sustain the momentum, Karina announced a long-term commitment: she is transforming her own home into a permanent collection center. Karina issued a heartfelt appeal to anyone listening: “All assistance, regardless of the size or type of contribution, is valuable. Every little bit helps someone who has lost everything.”

Media reports suggest the back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes have claimed the lives of at least 2,295 people and left more than 11,200 others injured. Search and rescue operations are racing against the clock as tens of thousands of people remain missing beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings. The human toll continues to rise sharply, with hard-hit coastal regions like La Guaira reporting devastating losses as families desperately search for their loved ones.

How to Help

If you would like to contribute to the Venezuela earthquake relief efforts or learn more about the upcoming multicultural event, look out for updates and direct contact links on the Chispa Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/19553048400/

Or contact Karina Muchacho (207) 249-8042