Emergency food and drinking water
Food staples, prepared meals, and clean drinking water for people experiencing urgent need.
A community-supported relief project
Venezuela Beyond the Headlines
Direct relief, personal relationships, and transparent support for communities in Venezuela.
Donations are collected through the official GoFundMe fundraiser. Updates, receipts, photographs, and distribution information will be shared through this website.
Organized personally byBenito Ruggio · British-American traveler and storyteller · Duxbury, Massachusetts
The mission
Support rooted in real relationships
Venezuela became much more than another destination to me. During my time there, I was welcomed into communities, homes, friendships, and everyday life. The people I met showed me a country far more human and complex than the one usually presented through international headlines.
After earthquakes created urgent needs for families and communities, I started this fundraiser to help through people I personally know and trust. The goal is to turn support from Duxbury, Boston, and beyond into practical assistance while documenting the process as openly as possible.
Supporting Venezuelan communities through direct relationships, transparent action, and stories that go beyond the headlines.
A personal connection
Why Venezuela matters to me
I did not leave Venezuela with a story about a place. I left with friendships, invitations, conversations, and a responsibility to the people who had welcomed me.
This project begins with those relationships. It is an attempt to help carefully, listen to the people closest to the needs, and let Venezuelans appear as individuals—not as symbols of a crisis. It also creates a human bridge between the community that raised me in Duxbury and the communities that welcomed me in Venezuela.
- 40+
- countries traveled independently
- Duxbury
- the Massachusetts community supporting the project
- Caracas
- where many of these relationships became personal
Boston ↔ Caracas
Two communities connected through friendship, practical support, and a shared belief that people are more than the headlines written about them.
Where donations are intended to go
Practical help shaped by local needs
Funds will be directed toward documented relief and community needs identified through trusted local relationships. Categories remain flexible because the most urgent need can change.
Medicine and basic health supplies
Essential nonprescription medical items and health supplies obtained through trusted contacts where appropriate and lawful.
Hygiene and baby supplies
Soap, sanitary products, diapers, baby necessities, and basic hygiene kits.
Blankets, clothing, and shelter essentials
Practical items for families whose housing or belongings have been affected.
Transportation and distribution
Reasonable costs required to purchase, move, and deliver supplies safely.
Community-specific urgent needs
Additional needs identified directly through trusted local contacts.
Exact spending may change as local needs develop. Significant changes will be explained through project updates.
The project will distinguish physical supplies from legitimate platform, transaction, transportation, and distribution costs.
How the process works
A documented path from donation to update
- 01
Donations are collected through GoFundMe
- 02
Needs are confirmed through trusted local relationships
- 03
Supplies or assistance are selected based on urgency
- 04
Purchases and transfers are documented
- 05
Distribution is photographed or recorded where safe and respectful
- 06
Receipts and updates are published
- 07
Donors are informed about results and remaining funds
Transparency
Evidence before claims
This ledger is ready for verified records. It will separate money received, fees, purchases, transfers, distribution costs, remaining funds, and funds reserved for upcoming needs.
No financial figures displayed here should be published until they are supported by actual GoFundMe records, receipts, transfer confirmations, or other documentation.
Live documentation
View the Google Sheets trackerOpen the complete transparency tracker
The Google Sheets tracker is organized into overview, donations, expenses and transfers, receipts, impact updates, privacy notes, and payout and fee records.
01Every purchase or transfer logged
02Receipts and confirmations linked
03Sensitive personal details protected
04Updates published after verification
Receipts may be redacted to protect addresses, account numbers, medical details, and other sensitive personal information.
Project journal
Updates, evidence, and changes
Follow the project from launch through delivery. Each milestone will be published in English and Spanish with dates, photographs, and supporting documentation.
01Live now
Fundraiser is live
The official GoFundMe campaign is open and accepting donations for documented relief and community needs.
02Live now
Public tracker is ready
The transparency tracker is structured to record donations, fees, expenses, transfers, receipts, and impact updates.
03Next step
First verified field update
The next update will follow confirmed needs and include evidence of the first purchase, transfer, or delivery.
People and community stories
Stories shared with permission, never used as decoration
Future profiles may include a first name or approved pseudonym, location, portrait, personal story, current needs, and a message to supporters in both languages.
About the organizer
Benito Ruggio
Benito Ruggio is a British-American traveler, storyteller, and aspiring filmmaker based in Duxbury, Massachusetts. After traveling independently through more than 40 countries, his experiences in Venezuela inspired him to create Venezuela Beyond the Headlines—an evolving project focused on human stories, cultural connection, and direct community support.
This is a personally organized GoFundMe project. Benito is not presenting himself as a professional aid organization, disaster-response expert, government representative, or established nonprofit.
The road that led here
Forty-plus countries. One lesson: arrive curious.
Years of independent travel taught me to listen before judging, live close to local communities, and question the fearful stories told about unfamiliar places. Venezuela left the deepest mark—and turned that way of traveling into a responsibility to act.
Media and community organizations
Press and collaboration
Venezuela Beyond the Headlines is a community-supported relief and storytelling project led by Benito Ruggio, connecting supporters in Massachusetts and beyond with trusted personal relationships in Venezuela.
- Short project summary
- Organizer biography
- Downloadable original photographs
- Official fundraiser link
- English and Spanish project updates
- Interview and press contact
Potential interview topics
- 01A young American traveler’s experience of everyday life in Venezuela
- 02Building a community bridge between Duxbury, Boston, and Caracas
- 03Transparency and dignity in a personally organized relief effort
- 04Travel storytelling beyond fear-based headlines
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers before you donate
01Is this a registered nonprofit?+
No formal nonprofit status or partnership is being claimed. This fundraiser is currently organized personally through GoFundMe unless verified information is added later.
02Where are donations collected?+
Through the official GoFundMe campaign linked throughout this website. This site does not process payments directly.
03How will donations be used?+
For documented relief and community needs described on this website, subject to evolving local circumstances and reasonable platform, transaction, transportation, or distribution costs.
04How do you know the people receiving support?+
Through personal friendships, community relationships, and direct contacts formed during Benito’s time in Venezuela. Specific recipient information will only be shared when safe and appropriate.
05Will receipts and updates be provided?+
That is the goal. Receipts, photographs, transfer information, and project updates will be shared while protecting sensitive personal information.
06Can I donate supplies instead of money?+
Supply donations or local collection events may be announced separately after logistics and current needs are confirmed. Contact Benito through the official GoFundMe campaign to express interest.
07Can businesses or organizations participate?+
Yes. Inquiries are welcome about sponsorships, matching donations, supply support, fundraising events, media, schools, and community partnerships.
08Is my donation tax-deductible?+
No tax-deductibility claim is being made here. Review the official GoFundMe campaign details and consult a qualified tax professional about your own circumstances.
Contact and collaboration
Help in the way that fits
For media, business support, schools, cultural organizations, local events, supply donations, or a general question, contact Benito through the official GoFundMe campaign.
01Media and interviews
02Business and community partnerships
03Schools and cultural organizations
To start a conversation, use the organizer contact option on the official GoFundMe campaign.
Venezuela Beyond the Headlines
Direct relationships. Transparent support. Human stories.
Support the relief fund through the official GoFundMe campaign, then return here for documented updates.