COCONUT CREEK – On Monday, August 31st, Food For The Poor started loading 12 tractor-trailer loads of relief items for shipment to the island of Dominica, the Caribbean country that suffered a devastating blow from Tropical Storm Erika. The storm caused flash flooding and mudslides, killing at least 20 people and leaving more than 50 missing according to published reports.
“As Dominica struggles with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika, it is our goal and our mission to help the people there to recover as quickly as possible from this tragedy,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “No one could have expected this much destruction from a tropical storm, but as soon as we got word of the what was happening on the island, Food For The Poor reached out to our partners in Dominica.”
The charity is working with primary partner R.E.A.C.H (Reaching Elderly Abandoned Citizens Housebound) to provide much needed healthcare and food items. Food For The Poor also provides schools in Dominica with building materials for expansion projects and educational supplies. Food For The Poor’s project manager confirmed that many of these items that were stored in the distribution center in the capital city of Roseau were destroyed in the flood waters.
Several of Food For The Poor’s generous donors are offering to assist in the recovery effort of Dominica, including the Caribbean Community Relief Fund. The money collected will go to the Miami Foundation and will be sent to Dominica through Food For The Poor.
“The reality of living in the Caribbean region is that we’re going to be faced with tropical storms and hurricanes on an annual basis. It is incumbent on us to rally around and support relief efforts,” said Marlon Hill, Vice-Chairman of the Miami Foundation, host organization of the Caribbean Community Relief Fund.
Gift In Kind donations also are coming in from partner organizations like, Feed My Starving Children, which donated cases of pre-packaged rice meals, and Matthew 25 Ministries, which has provided six pallets of hygiene kits. Groups in Brooklyn, N.Y., which has the highest number of immigrants from Dominica living in the United States, are collecting supplies for their home country. Shipping line King Ocean has agreed to provide free shipping as a donation.
The Dominican Republic also suffered severe crop loss from Tropical Storm Erika that ultimately will affect that country’s economy. Food For The Poor has been working in the Dominican Republic for 15 years and in Haiti for nearly 30 years. This long partnership has allowed the organization to have storm relief supplies in place and ready for deployment.
In Haiti, the storm killed at least one person in a landslide and four others reportedly died in a traffic accident during the heavy rains. In anticipation of Erika’s arrival, Food For The Poor distributed blankets, buckets, shoes, hand soap, kerosene stoves, clothing for women, children and men, linen, paper products, plastic zipper bags, food and medical supplies.
Some of the aid went to the thousands who have been displaced as result of the Haiti/DR border crisis. Ten key areas located along the border received goods in advance of the storm.
“Words cannot express the gratitude Food For The Poor has for every item of clothing, bag of rice, ounce of medicine or monetary contribution that is donated to this organization to help the people in the countries we serve, especially during the time of a natural disaster,” said Mahfood.
To make a donation toward the recovery effort in Dominica, please click www.FoodForThePoor.org/dominica.
To see how Food For The Poor is preparing tractor-trailer loads of goods for distribution, and to hear from the organization’s President/CEO please click www.FoodForThePoor.org/erika.
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