The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THERE continues to be tremendous outpouring of support for the southern Bahamas as another huge shipment of hurricane relief items collected on Grand Bahama was shipped out yesterday.

The Long Island Association, The Bahamas Red Cross and the Pinktober Committee on Grand Bahama have compiled their donations in one shipment for distribution to Crooked Island, Acklins and San Salvador. Lou Carroll, of the Long Island Association, said the association had launched a week-long relief drive at the Salvation Army in Freeport.

“We already sent out one shipment to Long Island, and so this second shipment will be shared with the Crooked Island Association in Nassau for distribution to Crooked Island, Acklins and San Salvador,” he said.

Mr Carroll said that their association is not only concerned about getting relief into Long Island, but to the other islands that were also devastated by hurricane Joaquin.

“We realised that there are other islands out there that need help and they don’t have an association as strong as ours, and so we wanted to also assist them,” he said.

Stephanie Barr, of the Bahamas Red Cross Grand Bahama Centre, said donations for hurricane relief continue to come in at the facility on Jobson Avenue.

“We have been receiving donations from all sectors within the Grand Bahama community, and we are very grateful to the general public for the overwhelming support they have given to those in the southern Bahamas,” she said.

She thanked Martin Munroe, of Wide World Forwarding, for helping with the packaging of items for shipment, and Clifford Bowe for transportation to Nassau and to the various mailboats.

Mrs Barr also commended the Pinktober Committee for coming on board and partnering with the Red Cross. “They have brought in tarps, bleach, cleaning supplies, and water which are needed in the affected islands,” she said. “We appreciate everyone who has come in and donated items in support for our sisters and brothers in the south,” she said.

Karen Ferguson, a member of Pinktober Committee, felt it was important to contribute to the relief efforts. “Even though it is breast cancer month, we decided to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters in the south because we know the focus is on them and we need to come to their aid. This is just a small gesture of our appreciation to show them we do understand their plight,” she said.

Ms Ferguson said that Grand Bahama residents understand what the residents in south are going through. “We went through it in 2004 and 2005 and we want them to know that in addition to sending these donations, we are also praying for their recovery so they can get back to normalcy very soon. It is heart warming to see that so many people are reaching out … and coming together as a cohesive unit, and we want people to continue to give what they can and not forget about them,” she said.