Supplies
What to donate
If you can't give money, donated goods help too — but only the right ones. Here's what collection centers are actually asking for, and what they can't use.
Cash is still the fastest help
With the airport and port damaged, cash lets responders buy exactly what's needed, locally. If you can give money, that reaches people fastest — but if you're donating goods, here's what's needed.
Give money instead →Most needed items
Clean water
- Water-purification tablets (preferred — one tablet treats ~1 gallon)
- Portable water filters
- Oral rehydration salts / electrolytes
- Bottled water (only where a site accepts it)
Medical & first aid
The top priority at nearly every collection point.
- First-aid kits
- Gauze, bandages, adhesive plasters
- Antiseptic (alcohol, hydrogen peroxide), saline solution
- Pain/fever medicine (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
- Syringes, gloves, face masks
- Thermometers
- Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin / Bacitracin)
- Povidine-iodine, Vicks VapoRub
- Multivitamins (children and adults), Vitamin K
- Blood-pressure monitor (tensiómetro)
- Pediatric medical supplies
Hospital & surgical supplies
Requested by hospitals treating the injured — useful where a collection point ships directly to medical teams.
- Sterile and disposable gloves
- Patient and surgical gowns
- IV catheters (jelcos), adult and pediatric
- IV fluids: 0.9% saline, 45% saline without dextrose, Ringer's
- Scalpels (various sizes)
- Injectable meds: omeprazole, dipyrone, ketoprofen, diclofenac (ampoules)
- ECG electrodes, adult and pediatric
- Disposable bed sheets, patient kits
- Surgical boots, caps and masks
- Gelofusine, cotton wool, pens
- Adult diapers
Food
- Non-perishable / canned food (tuna, sardines, beans)
- Canned protein, dried fruit, nuts
- Energy bars, nutritious crackers
- Powdered or shelf-stable milk
- Coffee
Babies & children
- Infant formula
- Baby food / purées (compotas)
- Diapers — baby and adult
- Baby-care and hygiene products
Hygiene
- Soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Toilet paper, wet wipes
- Sanitary towels
- Deodorant
- Heavy-duty trash bags
- Combs and hairbrushes
- Glycerin or Dove bar soap
- Body lotion
- Medium-size towels
Clothing & footwear
Only where a collection point accepts it — many ask for new underwear and good-condition light clothing, not bulk used clothes.
- Underwear (children and adults)
- Light clothing in good condition
- Socks
- Comfortable shoes or sneakers (no high heels)
Light, power & rescue
- Flashlights and headlamps
- Heavy-duty batteries (AA, AAA, D)
- Solar phone chargers / power banks
- Work gloves, blankets, lanterns
- Rescue tools: helmets, picks, shovels, cutting discs (for responder teams)
Please do not send
Sending the wrong items clogs the response. When in doubt, give cash.
- Clothing — most drives are not accepting it in this phase
- Bottled water in bulk — it fills shipping containers fast; send purification tablets instead
- Used or expired medicine
- Perishable food
- Anything a specific site's list does not request
Compiled from the needs lists published by Operación Todos con VZLA, GEM, and city collection drives. Always check a specific site's current list before donating.