South Floridians have been gathering supplies and making donations this week as Hurricane Melissa has etched a destructive path across the Caribbean.
Many aid organizations say they will be ready to head for Jamaica and other affected island nations.
Below, find a sampling of ways to contribute to community relief efforts.
DONATE
Direct Relief, aims to provide medicines and other resources to those affected by Hurricane Melissa: directrelief.org
U.S. Caribbean Strong Relief Fund, managed by The Miami Foundation, supports disaster preparedness and long-term recovery efforts: miami.fcsuite.com/erp/donate
Global Empowerment Mission, based in Doral, delivers aid to people around the world: globalempowermentmission.org
Food for the Poor, a Coconut Creek-based nonprofit that provides aid to the people of Latin America and the Caribbean: foodforthepoor.org
American Friends of Jamaica, supports Jamaican charities: theafj.org
United Way Broward: unitedwaybroward.org
World Food Program USA: wfpusa.org
GlobalGiving, a nonprofit crowdfunding platform: globalgiving.org
CARE, an international humanitarian organization: care.org
Americares, focuses on disaster relief and global health: americares.org
GiveDirectly, sends money to people living in poverty: givedirectly.org
American Red Cross, redcross.org/donations
Jewish Federation of Broward County Emergency Fund, jewishbroward.org/hurricane-melissa-relief
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, ccadm.org
PROVIDE RELIEF ITEMS
Food for the Poor is accepting items at their warehouse at 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek. Collection hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
They are looking for the following new items in the sizes listed:
- Wash cloths (12 inch-by-12 inch)
- Soap (3 ounces)
- Unscented deodorant (2 ounces)
- Shampoo or body wash (8 ounces)
County and city governments are collecting items including tarps, tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, batteries, generators, solar-powered lights, canned and nonperishable foods, water, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, hairbrushes, washcloths, work gloves, industrial sponges and first-aid kits. Go to each website listed below for more details on suggested items as well as drop-off days and times.
The City of Fort Lauderdale is working with Food for the Poor to collect needed items: fortlauderdale.gov. Drop off at Fort Lauderdale Police Department lobby, 1515 W. Cypress Creek Road, as well as at the following Fire Rescue stations:
- Station 2, 528 NW Second St.
- Station 3, 2801 SW Fourth Ave.
- Station 8, 1717 SW First Ave.
- Station 16, 533 NE 22nd St., Wilton Manors
- Station 29, 2002 NE 16th St.
- Station 35, 1969 E. Commercial Blvd.
- Station 46, 1515 NW 19th St.
- Station 47, 1000 SW 27th Ave.
- Station 49, 1015 Seabreeze Blvd.
- Station 53: 2200 Executive Airport Way
- Station 54: 3211 NE 32nd St.
The City of Miramar: miramarfl.gov/News-articles; drop off at:
- Fire Station 19, 6700 Miramar Parkway
- Fire Station 70, 9001 Miramar Parkway
- Fire Station 84, 14801 SW 27th St.
- Fire Station 100, 2800 SW 184th Ave.
- Fire Station 107, 11811 Miramar Parkway
- Miramar Police Headquarters, 11765 City Hall Promenade
The City of Lauderhill: lauderhill-fl.gov; drop off at:
- Lauderhill City Hall, 5581 W. Oakland Park Blvd.
- St. George Community Park, 3501 NW Eighth St.
- Veterans Park, 7600 NW 50th St.
John Mullin Park, 2000 NW 55th Ave.- Westwind Park, 4550 NW 82nd Ave.
- Joy’s Roti Delight, 1205 NW 40th Ave.
- The Dutch Pot Jamaican Restaurant, all locations
The City of Tamarac: tamarac.gov; drop off at:
- Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Ave.
- Fire Station 15, 6000 Hiatus Road
- Fire Station 36, 7499 NW 72nd St.
- Tamarac Community Center, 8601 W. Commercial Blvd.
- Tamarac Recreation Center, 7531 N University Drive
The City of Pembroke Pines: ppines.com; drop off at these fire stations:
- Station 33, 600 SW 72nd Ave.
- Station 69, 9500 Pines Blvd.
- Station 79, 19900 Pines Blvd.
- Station 89, 13000 Pines Blvd.
- Station 99, 16999 Pines Blvd.
- Station 101, 6057 SW 198th Terrace
Broward County: broward.org; drop off at:
- Miramar Branch Library and Education Center, 2050 Civic Center Place
- South Regional/Broward College Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines
- Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines
VOLUNTEER
Help assemble emergency kits at Global Empowerment Mission’s warehouse, 1850 NW 84th Ave, No. 100, Doral. Visit globalempowermentmission.org. Hours are:
- 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Oct. 28-31
- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 1
