Tons of donations packed and shipped from Miami have been arriving in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa devastated much of the island, leaving at least 32 dead and over a million people desperate for food and water.
But it’s not enough.
“It’s a Hurricane Maria, an Irma and a Dorian all compounded,” said Michael Capponi, the CEO of Miami-based disaster relief nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), while in Kingston. “The destruction looks like some parts in Gaza today.”
GEM has been at the epicenter of South Florida donation drives and support efforts for Jamaica and works closely with other international organizations, Jamaican aid groups and Jamaican authorities to distribute donations. In the days before Melissa made landfall on Oct. 28 as a historic category 5 storm, GEM had been collecting, packing and preparing donations to be transported as soon as possible.
Families receive much-needed aid from nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission in Jamaica.
Capponi told the Herald that GEM had the first cargo plane land in Jamaica as soon as the airport opened, with four more arriving since then. Royal Caribbean, in partnership with GEM, is sending a ship carrying aid that will arrive in Jamaica Tuesday, Capponi said. By then, GEM would have brought over 1,000 pallets, over a million pounds, of aid into Jamaica.
But distributing the aid has been extremely challenging. Roads are either destroyed or blocked by traffic or debris, and several parts of the island are entirely inaccessible. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Monday that “logistics continue to pose major challenges.” Unlike the United States, Jamaica lacks significant infrastructure to deal with the aftermath of a hurricane of this scale.
On top of that, Capponi said, the need far exceeds the amount of supplies currently available in Jamaica.
“I’m now 100 percent convinced that all the aid coming from all the aid groups combined will not even be a quarter of what’s needed,” Capponi said. “Here, you have a situation with way over a million people that are hungry and starving. You have an impending secondary disaster that is unfolding as we speak right now, and it will probably get much, much worse throughout this week and next week.”
GEM brought supplies to Black River, a coastal town hit directly by Melissa, though the trip took a long time because of the extreme traffic and infrastructure damage, Capponi said. GEM team members then went to a town called Lacovia. Initially, 500 people were there to receive supplies, he said. After just 20 minutes, the crowd ballooned to 1,500 people.
“That raised an alarm for me,” Capponi said. The desperation is palpable, he said. Members of a Jamaican group GEM works told him their aid truck was “completely attacked” just yesterday.
Food and generators are the absolute biggest need, he said. The U.S. State Department, through United Nations agencies, has sent about 600 pallets of “very good aid,” including hygiene kits and generators, he said. The U.S. also deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team, including urban search-and-rescue teams, to assess needs and provide search and recovery assistance.
Charity group Good360 also donated generators that the Jamaican military is taking into mountainous regions still without power. Capponi is calling on food distributors and wholesalers to make donations before the circumstances get even more dire.
Jamaica’s Minister of Energy, Transportation and Telecommunications, Daryl Vaz, said that the country’s international airports have been receiving a record-breaking number of flights; on Saturday alone Kingston’s airport received 77 flights, 30 of which were filled with aid for distribution.
“The relief flights are coming in fast and furious and there’s no shortage of supplies in terms of getting supplies into Jamaica for distribution for humanitarian efforts,” he said in a press conference on Monday. But he admitted that distribution has been a challenge and that they have been leaning on charities with more expertise in disaster relief to improve their systems. “We are taking good advice from international charities in terms of how we can streamline and make it seamless, not only for the receipt but the distribution of hurricane relief items,” he said.
He asked for patience. “We need all Jamaica to be a part if we are going to be successful.”
A video shared by GEM shows the high level of need in Jamaica as droves of people wait for aid. Jamaicans share harrowing stories of narrowly surviving the hurricane and losing their homes. Supermarkets on the island are either out of stock or were destroyed by the storm.
“We need water and food right now,” said one woman in the video. “The sea take all of my house. I don’t have anywhere to sleep right now.”
In South Florida, several organizations and municipalities are still collecting donations. The Miami Dolphins are hosting a donation drive at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Requested items at all donation drives include non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid kits, toiletries, batteries, flashlights, generators, work gloves, yard equipment, chainsaws, sleeping bags, portable radios, water filters and tarps. (Donation drives will not accept used clothing or linens.)
Cash donations of any amount are also heavily encouraged to help pay for transportation costs. People can sign up on GEM’s website to volunteer to pack donation boxes.
How to help:
Miami Dolphins Donation Drive at Hard Rock Stadium
On Nov. 5, the Miami Dolphins are hosting a donation drive at Hard Rock Stadium in partnership with GEM. Fans that donate will receive a 15% discount at the team store on-site. Enter through Gate 4 to get to the donation area. Click here for more information on requested items.
When: Nov. 5, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr, Miami Gardens. Gate 4.
Black Cake Fest Donation Drive at Broward Mall
On Nov. 16, Island SPACE Caribbean Museum is hosting the fourth annual Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest from 2 – 6 p.m. Organizers are donating a portion of the event’s proceeds to hurricane relief efforts. Tickets are $25 online and $30 at the door. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
The event is also serving as a one-day drop-off location for essential items.
When: Nov. 16, 2 – 6 p.m.
Where: Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, located at the Broward Mall, 8000 West Broward Blvd., Suite 1202, Plantation
American Friends of Jamaica
This nonprofit organization works closely with several relief agencies. The group collecting monetary donations online. Click here to donate.
Americares Hurricane Fund
Americares is a global health and disaster relief organization preparing to send an emergency response team to the region. Click here to donate.
Doral Hurricane Relief Drive at GEM
GEM is partnering with the Miami Foundation, South Florida Caribbean Strong and the Caribbean Bar Association to collect, sort and pack donations to be distributed in Jamaica.
GEM is requesting volunteers to help pack supplies in at its Doral warehouse at 1850 NW 84th Avenue #100 in the coming days. Click here to sign up for a day and time to volunteer.
Click here to donate money to the U.S. Caribbean Strong Relief Fund online.
Click here to purchase hurricane relief items from South Florida Caribbean Strong’s Amazon wishlist.
Food For The Poor Donation Drive in Coconut Creek
This nonprofit has expanded its emergency relief network in Jamaica, establishing three regional operations hubs in Montego Bay, Black River and New Hope. The group plans to start a fourth hub between Montego Bay and St. Ann’s.
Click here to donate money to Food For The Poor’s relief efforts in Jamaica. Click here to purchase items from Food For The Poor’s Amazon wish list to be donated to those in need.
Food For The Poor organized an ongoing donation drive at its warehouse, located at 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek. The group is accepting donations weekdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon.
GlobalGiving
This nonprofit launched a fund with a goal of $1 million for disaster relief in Jamaica. Click here to donate.
Golden Krust Restaurant Donation Drives
Jamaican restaurant chain Golden Krust partnered with American Friends of Jamaica, GEM, Food For The Poor and other organizations to raise $250,000 and collect donations for hurricane relief.
Click here to donate to Golden Krust’s fundraiser.
Customers can also donate money and essential items at any Golden Krust restaurant. There are several Golden Krust locations in South Florida, including in Miramar, Miami Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach and Hollywood.
Homestead Donation Drive
The City of Homestead is partnering with GEM to collect donations at three drop-off locations. Collection hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Drop-off locations:
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City Hall — 100 Civic Court, Homestead
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Homestead Police Department — 45 NW First Avenue, Homestead
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Pichol Williams Community Center — 951 SW 4th Street, Homestead (This location also collects donations Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps, a global nonprofit that provides emergency health services, deployed an emergency response team to Jamaica with food, hygiene and medical supplies. Click here to donate.
Jamaican Women of Florida Donation Drive
JWOF, an organization dedicated to empowering Jamaican women in Florida, organized a donation drive with several drop-off locations in Broward and Palm Beach.
Drop-off locations:
Juici Patties restaurants in Miramar, Hollywood, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Sunrise, Davie, West Palm, Greenacres, Coral Springs.
Walker’s Chiropractic and Wellness Center — 8844 Miramar Pkwy, Miramar
Thomas Ed Learning Center — 2655 S Rd 7, Suite E820, Wellington
Lauderhill Donation Drive
The City of Lauderhill launched a city-wide donation drive with several drop-off locations. Park hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Drop-off locations:
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Lauderhill City Hall — 5581 W. Oakland Park Blvd.
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Veterans Park — 7600 NW 50th Street
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John Mullins Park — 2000 NW 55th Avenue
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Westwind Park — 4550 NW 82nd Avenue
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Lauderhill Historical Museum — 1080 NW 47th Avenue
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St. George Park — 3501 NW 8th St, Lauderhill, FL 33311
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Joy’s Roti Delight — 1205 NW 40th Avenue (This location also accepts donations Saturday and Sunday.)
Miramar Donation Drives
The City of Miramar is accepting donations 24/7 at the following locations:
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Fire Station 19 – 6700 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023
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Fire Station 70 – 9001 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33025
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Fire Station 84 – 14801 SW 27th Street, Miramar, FL 33027
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Fire Station 100 – 2800 SW 184th Avenue, Miramar, FL 33029
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Fire Station 107 – 11811 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023
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Miramar Police Headquarters – 11765 City Hall Promenade, Miramar, FL 33025
The Miramar Branch Library and Education Center is accepting donations Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Click here for more info.
Miramar Branch Library and Education Center – 2050 Civic Center Place
Pembroke Pines donative drive at library
The Southwest Regional Library is accepting donations Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Click here for more info.
Southwest Regional Library – 16835 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines
World Food Programme USA
World Food Programme USA, a non-profit organization that supports the mission of the United Nations’ World Food Programme, is accepting donations to bring food to Caribbean nations impacted by Melissa. Click here to donate.
