Efforts by Eleutherans to help people affected by hurricane Joaquin in the central and southern islands of the Bahamian archipelago were in full force on Monday, October 5th, 2015, in North, Central and Southern Districts.
At the Haynes Library, volunteers, spearheaded by Pryia and Amy Simmons, and Jasmin Johnson were accepting all manner of donations in partnership with the organization called “Head Knowles” out of New Providence. Some of the items that were said to be desperately needed included: bleach, water, cleaning items, canned foods, clothing, baby items, feminine items, medicines, cash and more.
Response from the community has been very good so far said organizers and locals and winter residents could be seen bringing in supplies throughout the day on Monday. “It’s really awesome to see the amount of support that has come out of private citizens and we just want to encourage people – whatever you have, even the smallest donation is well appreciated… It’s just so traumatic when you think of having absolutely nothing at all. These people overnight have lost everything that they owned and had,” commented Torkel Lockhart, a volunteer at the library on Monday, who felt the tragedy playing out personally, with close family members in Long Island.
Volunteers will be at the library accepting donations until 7pm tonight (Mon, Oct. 5th), and will continue to be available to receive hurricane relief items all week, with additional fundraising activities planned for the upcoming weekend. The first shipment from the Haynes Library collection depot will be transported into New Providence on Tuesday, October 6th, 2015.
In Rock Sound, hurricane relief efforts, set up in front of the Marketplace complex, are focusing on collecting all manner of relief supplies, which will be transported on a direct flight into Crooked Island on Wednesday, October 7th, 2015. This effort is being organized by a group of young south Eleutherans and spearheaded by Holly Pearce. The collection depot in front of the Marketplace complex will be open between the hours of 9am to 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Also in Rock Sound, president of the Kiwanis Club, Margaritta Culmer, shared that their club in partnership with Kiwanis Bahamas were collecting hurricane relief supplies at the Methodist church in Rock Sound between the hours of 3pm and 7pm today (Monday, Oct. 5th) and each Monday during the next three weeks to be shipped to the central hurricane relief headquarters of Kiwanis Bahamas each Tuesday, for disbursement to the affected islands. “Also, if people have particular islands they want to send their stuff to, if they have family in Long Island or family in Mayaguana or Acklins, they can deliver their boxes labeled with the island, names and contact information and the Kiwanis would make sure that they get it.” said Margaritta. On Tuesdays through Sundays, during the next three weeks, people wanting to send relief supplies could drop them at Sammy’s Restaurant in Rock Sound, informed Mrs. Culmer, and they would be secured for the following Tuesday’s shipment.
Efforts were also ongoing in Spanish Wells and in Harbour Island. In Spanish Wells F/V “First One” loaded supplies on Monday Oct. 5th for travel to Long Island on Tuesday, and F/V “Atlantic Lady” will accept supplies on Tuesday Oct. 6th for travel to San Salvador and Rum Cay on Wednesday.
