City of Miami Ends Hurricane Relief Drive, Hope for Haiti Delegation Returns after Delivering its Promise
MIAMI – City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, District 5, would like to thank all of the members of the community who contributed to relief efforts to assist hurricane victims in the Caribbean.
“We issued a call to action and the community responded,” said Mayor Manny Diaz. “Thousands of people in our neighboring islands will benefit from the generosity of the people of Miami.”
Several Caribbean nations have been affected by Hurricane Ike, as well as Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna over the last three weeks, leaving thousands of people in dire need of food, clothing and emergency assistance. Islands, such as the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic , Haiti and Cuba were hit by the storms, with their residents suffering injuries and extensive damage. 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.
“Haiti has endured much over the past month and we heard the cries of our neighbors” said Commissioner Spence-Jones; “It’s nice to see South Florida come together for such a worthy cause.”
Commissioner Spence-Jones led a delegation of 20 to Haiti on Friday, September 19, 2008, to deliver 50,000 pounds of donated food and water and other supplies to those in Cabaret, Gonaives, Port-de-Paix/Latorture, Jacmel and Hinch, Haiti as part of “Operation: Hope for Haiti”.
Operation: Hope for Haiti” was created in response to the devastation left behind in Haiti.
The supplies for hurricane victims were collected throughout City of Miami Fire Stations and certain NET offices. The City of Miami also joined forces with Dolphin Stadium, the Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins and the Miami Hurricanes to collect food and clothing at their sporting events. In addition, Miami Dade College collected items at eight of their campuses for one week to support the City’s efforts.
The overwhelming support for Miami’s relief effort came from all sectors of the community, including: American Airlines, DHL, PBS&J, 1-800-Pack-Rat, Metcalf and Eddy/AECOM, American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Camillus House, City of Miami Goodwill Ambassadors, Miami-Dade County Goodwill Ambassadors, Carma Foundation, South Florida Youth Foundation and World Vision.
Mayor Diaz and Commissioner Spence-Jones remind residents that although the collection of items at City of Miami Fire Stations and Net Offices has ended, donations can still be taken to: Miami-Dade Fire and Police Stations and the Dolphin Stadium. (Collection bins will be set up at Dolphin Stadium during all home games until December 14, 2008).
People wanting to make monetary donations may do so to the following charitable organizations:
World Vision
Call: 1-888-511-6400 (English) or 1-888-511-6404 (Spanish)
Online: www.firstgiving.com/haitirelief
Mail: World Vision, Attn: Haiti Relief, 7220 NW 36th Street, Suite 228, Miami, FL 33166. Please make all checks payable to “World Vision.”
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami
Catholic Charities Storm Aid
9401 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami Shores, FL 33138
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.
https://american.redcross.org
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013
The Daughters of Charity
Take cash donations as well as non-perishable food and medicine for delivery to Cuba.
Las Hijas de la Caridad
Sor Hilda/ Sor Eva
500 N.W. 3 Avenue
Miami, FL 33126
(305) 266-6485
