COCNUT CREEK – With transportation costs continuing to rise, the international aid agency Food For The Poor says the focus of aid to Caribbean storm victims needs to be on collecting additional funds and nonperishable foods.
The Coconut Creek-based nonprofit agency has sent more than 170 shipping containers of relief supplies to Caribbean storm victims. While much of the more than $20 million worth of aid has gone to Haiti, Food For The Poor has also shipped aid to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos. The agency says it continues to concentrate on shipping what is most needed.
“It costs thousands of dollars to ship a container of relief supplies to the Caribbean,” said Food For The Poor’s Executive Director, Angel Aloma. “We want to make sure that we continue to send storm victims what they need the most –life-saving food and clean, drinkable water. We are also fortunate that we have a partner that supplies us with used clothing and that is willing to subsidize a portion of the shipping costs.”
The nonprofit agency says the items it needs the most for storm victims are canned meat, canned fish, dry beans, bottled water, first-aid items, personal hygiene items and blankets.
Food For The Poor is asking anyone interested in helping storm victims in the Caribbean to make a tax-deductible donation online at www.FoodForThePoor.org/hurricane or by phone at 1-800-487-1158.
The warehouse will accept donations Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Food For The Poor is the second largest international relief and development organization in the nation and the # 1 charity in Florida. With more than 96% of all donations going directly to programs that help those in need, Food For The Poor provides nourishing food, safe shelter, necessary medical care, educational materials, support for orphans and the aged, and much more to the poorest of the poor in 16 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
