Broward County Continues Assistance to Haiti with Donations, Free Phone Calls and Fee Waivers
FT. LAUDERDALE – Broward County Commissioner Albert C. Jones has been appointed by the County Commission to act as the County’s liaison for community and government relief efforts to Haiti. Commissioner Jones also accepted an invitation to serve on the Leadership Committee of the Broward County Haitian Relief Task Force.
“Long term coordination of community relief efforts are needed to efficiently and adequately assist Haitian earthquake victims,” said Commissioner Jones. “My involvement in community relief efforts will allow the Commission to assess what county services may be available to assist Haitian earthquake victims and family members who live here. We want to complement community efforts.”
Broward County Commissioner Albert C. Jones
Broward County employees have generously opened their hearts and wallets to help Haitian earthquake victims. More than $57,000 has been donated to the American Red Cross by Broward employees through direct payroll deductions and donations of annual leave.
Not only did Broward employees contribute, so have many Broward County agencies. Port Everglades, the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the Broward County Emergency Management Division, Broward County Human Services Department and Broward County Libraries Division are among several agencies that stepped up to help.
Three branch libraries – Tamarac, North Lauderdale and Pompano Beach – are offering the public free long distance phone service and internet access to contact loved ones in Haiti. A total of 15 phones and 11 additional computers are fully operational. AT&T reports that approximately 30 to 40 percent of the calls are getting through despite the devastation to Haiti’s infrastructure. The program will continue through March.
Donations from employees and residents to Broward County’s 365 Day Food Drive helped to replenish the shelves of local food banks that have been sending aid to Haiti. Restocking these supplies has allowed food banks to meet the increasing demand of those in need in Broward County.
Port Everglades lifted tariffs for humanitarian aid shipped from the seaport and is working with local relief efforts to match shipping companies with organizations that want to use ocean shipping as a means of transporting supplies to Haiti.
The Broward County Commission also approved a waiver of landing fees through August 2010 at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for emergency relief operations to Haiti. The Broward County Emergency Management Division continues to coordinate relief efforts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, and State agencies. Broward County Human Services has been involved in coordinating local human services relief.
