The socioeconomic and political crisis in Venezuela has caused a mass civilian exodus. An estimated 3 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015, overwhelming the medical capabilities of the South American, Central American, and Caribbean nations who are receiving and supporting these refugees. To lessen the burden on the neighboring countries, the US Naval Ship (USNS) Comfort was recently deployed on a 5-month medical mission.

Working alongside host-nation medical professionals who are absorbing thousands of Venezuelan migrants and refugees, the ship’s medical teams will provide care to the most-affected communities.

To meet a critical need that can’t currently be met and support the mission of the sailors aboard the Comfort, Spirit of America is providing 100 wheelchairs that will be donated to patients recovering from surgery at Comfort mission stops in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and other countries most in need.

“We expect to help thousands of people while we are on this mission and impact lives,” CAPT Kevin Buckly, Commanding Officer, UNSN COMFORT Medical Treatment Facility, said. “We will be providing surgeries for patients onboard USNS Comfort. These will be low-risk surgeries with high economic impact. The surgery services we will provide have some of the biggest impact economically and help not only the patients themselves but help their families.”

With your support, we will provide what America’s sailors have told us they need to deliver on the promise of the Comfort’s arrival and bring hope to those who are less fortunate than us.