© 2024 WLRN
MIAMI | SOUTH FLORIDA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Orlando Nightclub Shooting: How to Help

Lynare Robbins
/
Courtesy
The Bid Red Bus from One Blood collectors is parking today (Sunday) outside of Trinity Cathedral in Downtown Miami.

A shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando has left 50 dead and more injured, reported to be the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Sunday morning.

There are a number of opportunities in South Florida to support the victims and their families.

Attend a vigil

The city of Miami Beach is holding a vigil at 7 p.m. Sunday night at Soundscape Park,  500 17th St., Miami Beach.

The Pride Center in Wilton Manors will be hosting a vigil at 5 p.m. Sunday evening. The vigil will be held outside if it doesn't rain. There will be grief counselors on hand. 2040 N.  Dixie Hwy, Fort Lauderdale.

Vigils are being held in cities across the country, including at the Stonewall Inn, the famous New York City gay club.

Donate blood

The Big Red Bus is parked Sunday outside if Trinity Cathedral, in downtown Miami. The church will also be open for those who would like to light candles or pray for the victims. 464 NE 16th St., Miami. 

UPDATE: OneBlood has posted on Twitter that the organization is at capacity after an overwhelming response. It will now be accepting donations over the next few days. Schedule an appointment here.

OneBlood also announced that FDA guidelines on blood donation are still in effect. Those guidelines say that men who have had sex with a man in the last 12 months should not donate blood. Read the recently revised FDA guidelines here

There will also be a truck available for blood donation from 3-7 pm at Soundscape Park. Here's a video posted on Twitter of people waiting to donate blood.

Donate to the victims

Equality Florida, an advocacy group for  gay, bisexual and transgender rights, is collecting donations to victims on a GoFundMe page. Here's the organization's statement on the shooting:

We are reeling from the tragic news that a gunman opened fire on the 2 a.m. capacity crowd at Pulse leaving 50 people dead and over 50 injured, according to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. We are heartbroken and angry that senseless violence has once again destroyed lives in our state and in our country. Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ history. They were often the only safe gathering place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety. June commemorates our community standing up to anti-LGBTQ violence at the Stonewall Inn, the nightclub that has become the first LGBTQ site recognized as a national monument. We have received a steady stream of emails and messages from those seeking to help or to make sense of the senseless. We make no assumptions on motive. We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger. We stand in solidarity and keep our thoughts on all whose lives have been lost or altered forever in this tragedy."

Grief counseling

The GLBT Community Center is of Central Florida in Orlando is open and offering counseling. For immediate support you can call the Zebra Coalition, a network of organizations for LGBT youth at their hotline, (407) 228-1446.

Read the Miami Herald's live coverage of the shooting here. Follow Equality Florida Action's updates on support for victims and counseling here.

More On This Topic