HOW TO HELP: Here’s a list of resources to support those impacted by the Surfside building collapse

(Gerald Herbert, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Financial Donations

Donate to The Surfside Hardship Fund: The Coral Gables Community Foundation, The Key Biscayne Community Foundation, The Knight Foundation, The Miami Foundation, Miami HEAT, and Miami HEAT Charitable Fund are standing together to build a hardship fund for those impacted. They are asking Miami-Dade County residents to contribute to The Surfside Hardship Fund. Donors can use PayPal or credit cards. Here is the page.

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Donate to The Greater Miami Jewish Federation: They have established an emergency fund for short-term and long-term needs. The federation is accepting checks with the notation Surfside Building Collapse at 4200 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33137. They are also accepting donations via credit card. For more information about the fund, call 305-576-4000 or visit this page.

Donate to The Shul of Bal Harbour: They are accepting donations for those impacted by the collapse. To donate, visit click here.

Donate to The Miami Heat Charitable Fund: They are working with the humanitarian organization Direct Relief and raising funds to help survivors and first responders. Here is the page.

Donate to the Surfside Tragedy Central Emergency Fund: EZS Events, in a combined effort with The Shul of Bal Harbour, has created a central fund to be dispersed as needed directly to the victims and families. Their efforts have led to nearly $1.5 million raised. Here is the page.

Donate to one of GoFundMe’s Verified GoFundMe Pages: GoFundMe has launched a centralized hub identifying all verified fundraisers. Here is the page.

Donate to Operation Helping Hands: Operation Helping Hands, a partnership between United Way of Miami-Dade and the Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald, is assisting with relief efforts. Here’s how to support and assist families with their short-term and long-term recovery needs: Operation Helping Hands donation link. VolunteerMiami volunteer link.

Donate to The Duffy’s Foundation: The Duffy’s Foundation is matching up to $10,000 of all the money that is donated to help support the victims and first responders of Surfside. Here is the page. All donations now through July will be donated to the victims of Surfside. You may also donate via a written check.

Donate to Global Empowerment Mission: Michael Capponi’s organization, Global Empowerment Mission, has set up a Champlain Tower Residents Fund. Packing begins at 11:00 a.m. To donate, click here.


Donate Meals to First Responders (must get permission/approval first)

Donate meals: If you or your business would like to donate meals to our first responders on the scene, there is now a direct email you may send a message to with your proposal.

Many firefighters on the scene are working for hours on end without food. If you wish to provide food or meals to them, please email: searchandrescuemeals@gmail.com.


Provide Information

Complete a Wellness Check: Officials are asking the survivors of the collapse to fill out this Wellness Check form and relatives of the people who are unaccounted for to fill out this Missing Person Report.


Attend a Prayer Service or Vigil

Prayers & Vigils: Various religious organizations around the community are holding special prayer services and/or are accepting donations on behalf of those impacted by the partial building collapse. Find updates from nearby religious institutions by visiting the websites of The Shul, Young Israel, and Casa Church.


Children can Send Cards to First Responders

Send cards: Senator Lauren Book and Senator Jason Pizzo have been collecting notes and cards of encouragement from children for our first responders on the scene of the Surfside building collapse. The two Senators are still collecting cards and notes for delivery to first responders on the scene. Cards can be sent to: Senator Lauren Book, 967 Nob Hill Road, Plantation, FL 33324, or, Senator Jason Pizzo, 5582 N.E. 4th Court Suite 7B Miami, FL 33137.


Volunteering (no longer needed at this time)

Volunteer to help families: The town of Surfside activated a form online for Miami-Dade County residents who want to volunteer to help the families of the victims. However, as of Tuesday, June 29, the Town of Surfside announced they no longer needed any more volunteers. “We have received thousands of volunteer applications from volunteers who would like to donate their valuable time and recourses to those impacted by the incident. No additional volunteers are needed at this time, but the town is grateful for the overwhelming outpour of support.” Here is the official volunteer form.


More Resources

To see more information connecting survivors, families and first responders impacted by the Surfside collapse, go to surfsidestrength.com.


Chaplain Towers South collapse (Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.)

About the Authors:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.