In June 24, 2026, northern Venezuela was struck by the strongest earthquake the region had seen in 126 years. Two powerful tremors — magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 — hit within 39 seconds of each other, collapsing buildings, cutting power, and shattering lives across Caracas, La Guaira, Valencia, and beyond.
The numbers are staggering: over 235 lives lost, thousands injured, and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. But amid the devastation, stories of resilience emerged — rescuers from over 30 countries pulled survivors from the wreckage after more than 100 hours, and communities came together to share what little they had left.
Why This Matters to JBB
JBB is an online bookstore with a wandering heart: we sell in person too, one pop-up closer to our forever home. We are a handful of people who love stories, who believe books connect souls, and who try to show up for our readers with warmth and kindness every single day.
We are also a family.
One of our teammates (Sara M.) — a kind, dedicated, irreplaceable part of our team — lost her mother and her younger sister in this earthquake. The home she kept in La Guaira was left in ruins. She is grieving, she is hurting, and she is far from alone in this.
As a small, close-knit team, we feel this pain deeply. But we also believe in the power of coming together.
How You Can Help – Standing With Venezuela
We have set up a way for our community to contribute directly to relief efforts supporting our teammate and the affected families in Venezuela.
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Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) — Emergency supplies and distribution centers
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Save the Children — Support for children and families
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Action Against Hunger — Safe water, hygiene kits, and meals
A Message of Hope
Venezuela has been shaken, but not broken. We have watched rescuers work with bare hands to save strangers. We have seen neighbors share the little they had left. We have witnessed a nation refuse to be defined by tragedy — choosing instead to be defined by solidarity.
This is the same spirit we try to bring to JBB every day: showing up for each other, showing up for our community, and believing that even small acts of kindness create ripples.
- To our teammate: We are with you. We hold you. We are your family, and we will walk beside you through this.
- To Venezuela: You are not alone. The world sees you. The world stands with you.
- To our readers and customers: Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thank you for caring. Whether you donate, share this post, or simply hold Venezuela in your thoughts — you are part of the healing.
The JBB Team 🕊️📚
