News Americas, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Fri. Sept. 13, 2019: While there are hundreds of organizations promoting donation efforts for the Bahamas on the heels of the devastation for Hurricane Dorian, here are several ways you can help through these organizations that are on the ground and already working to help the victims.
1: World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen, led by Chef Jose Andes and an army of volunteer chefs, have so far fed over 100,000 victims of the storm through donations and support. They are taking meals from a kitchen 80 miles away in Nassau to Abaco and surrounding islands in several helicopter and seaplane trips each day. The WCK’s paella operation is also up and running in Freeport, working side by side with local chefs, and the amazing Grand Bahama community is helping deliver meals to hard hit areas. Donate here.
2: Samaritan’s Purse
North Carolina non-profit, Samaritan’s Purse has not only stepped in with supplied but has set up an emergency field hospital in Freeport at the request of the World Health Organization and the government of the Bahamas. They treated more than 90 patients on the first full day of operations on Sept. 10th. It’s team of surgeons, physicians, nurses, pharmaceutical staff, and biotech engineers will be able to provide medical care for up to 100 outpatient cases per day. There is bed space available for as many as 40 inpatients. The hospital can provide up to 10 surgeries per day and is complete with an obstetrics ward with delivery room. Support them here.
3: UNICEF
Since September 7th, UNICEF welcomed the arrival to Nassau, Bahamas of a plane carrying nearly 1.5 tons of lifesaving supplies to help provide access to safe water for over 9,500 children and families left reeling by Hurricane Dorian. This first supply shipment of UNICEF humanitarian items was freighted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and included over 400,000 water purification tablets, several 5,000-liters tanks for at least 2,000 people and 1,000 jerry cans. UNICEF has also deployed staff in the Bahamas to assess the needs of the most vulnerable children and families. The first responder team is composed of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, emergency coordination and communications experts. Despite the extremely challenging logistic situation on the ground, UNICEF was able to reach Abaco island to assess the extent of the destruction to help inform its humanitarian response plan. Support them here
4: Bahamas Red Cross
The Bahamas Red Cross is working to help the many victims on the ground while the American Red Cross has committed an initial $2 million to support those affected in the Bahamas by Dorian, and is also helping evacuees arriving in the U.S. Donate them here.
5: Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is already working on the ground, helping survivors and working to meet the needs of families and communities affected by this historic storm. These includes through solar lamps that include a phone charging outlet so hurricane victims can have a light at night and also charge a phone. Donate here
6: Food For The Poor
Food For The Poor has partnered with several organizations including HeadKnowles Foundation, the Sandals Foundation, the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida and the Archdiocese of Nassau to aid the people of the Bahamas after it was devastated last week by Category 5 Hurricane Dorian. The first disaster pallets were sent by air freight last week and were received by HeadKnowles, a relief organization in the Bahamas, for distribution. Relief items include generators, two-burner stoves, blankets and tarps, rice casserole meals, bags of rice and a general assortment of food, juices, chainsaws, diapers and 5-gallon buckets. Donate here
