MIAMI –– In the wake of hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan announced this week that she authored a resolution to establish a Hurricane Relief Drive for the people of the Caribbean.

The measure, supported by fellow Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson, passed successfully at the Sept. 16 county commission meeting.

The Hurricane Relief Drive runs through Oct. 17.

“My heart breaks when I hear about the devastation caused by the four back-to-back hurricanes in the Caribbean,” Jordan said in a prepared statement. “We could not turn our backs on their plight. I am grateful to Mayor Carlos Alvarez and to the Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management and Homeland
Security for getting behind this effort and coordinating the collection of supplies.”

Hanna and Ike submerged the Haitian city of Gonaives and cut off roadways, according to The Associated Press. Although the water has receded, streets are still a stinking mud bath, and homes are carpeted with muck and encrusted pots, pans and laundry, according to the AP.

More than 120,000 people are in shelters in the Artibonite region, which includes Gonaives, desperate for water and food, the Haitian government reported to the AP.

“I urge the community to get behind this effort,” Edmonson also said in the prepared statement.  “It is a matter of humanity and love for our fellow man.”

Photo: Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan

 

TO MAKE DONATIONS

Residents are asked to participate by making monetary donations or dropping off water and non-perishable food items at the following locations:

Miami-Dade Fire and Police Stations
Call Miami-Dade’s Answer Center at 3-1-1 or log on to www.miamidade.gov to find the nearest fire or police station.

Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan
District Office
2780 NW 167th Street
Miami, FL 33056
305-474-3011

Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson
District Office
Caleb Center
5400 NW 22nd Avenue, Suite 701
Miami, FL 33142
305-636-2331

People wanting to make monetary donations may do so to the following charity organizations. Please reference Miami-Dade County Hurricane Relief Drive in the memo section of checks.

American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013
1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
www.redcross.org
Donors should designate a specific disaster when making a check or credit card donation to the American Red Cross.  

Catholic Charities Storm Aid
Attention: Gloria Luna
9401 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami Shores, FL 33138
305-762-3006
www.ccadm.org
Only checks are being accepted. See attached flyer for more information, including churches accepting water, non-perishable food items and clothing.

Food For The Poor
6401 Lyons Road
Department 9662
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
954-427-2222
www.foodforthepoor.org/hurricane
Also accepting canned food, especially canned meat and fish, and dried beans.

Operation Helping Hands
c/o United Way of Miami-Dade
P.O. Box # 459007
Miami, FL 33245-9007
305-646-7129
www.unitedwaymiami.org/iwant2help_contribute.asp

World Vision
Attention: Haiti Relief
7220 NW 36th Street, Suite 228
Miami, FL 33166
1-888-511-6400 (English)
1-888-511-6404 (Spanish)
www.firstgiving.com/HaitiRelief
Donors should designate Haiti Relief when making a check or credit card donation to World Vision.

For more information, call Miami-Dade’s Answer Center at 3-1-1 or log on to www.miamidade.gov.