City of Miami and Community Leaders Unite to Aid Hurricane Victims in the Caribbean

MIAMI – City of Miami Mayor, Manny Diaz and Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, District 5, will be joined by other members of the Commission and community leaders on Thursday September 11 at 12:30 pm in Miami City Hall to urge residents to contribute to relief efforts to assist hurricane victims in the Caribbean.

Several Caribbean nations have been affected by Hurricane Ike, as well as Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna over the last three weeks, leaving many residents in dire need of food, clothing and emergency assistance. Residents are encouraged to donate non-perishable items, water, medicine and clothing.

Hurricane Ike plowed through the Caribbean leaving a trail of devastation. Haiti was severely affected, where four storms in three weeks have killed more than 600 people and left hundreds of thousands in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter, according to official reports.

Other islands, such as the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic and Cuba were also hit by the storm, with their residents suffering injuries and extensive damage.

Last week, the City of Miami joined forces with Miami-Dade County, local sports franchises and universities in South Florida to collect food and clothing for hurricane victims in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The food and clothing drive entitled “Operation: Hope for Haiti” kicked off at this past Sunday’s Miami Dolphins football game against the New York Jets, where an overwhelming amount of food and clothing was collected.
“Operation: Hope for Haiti” will continue through September 19, 2008.

For more information on “Operation: Hope for Haiti”, contact the Office of Commissioner Spence-Jones at (305) 250-5390.