Hurricane Matthew Relief Of Haiti Loaded Onto Ship At Port Miami
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - After collecting donations for a little more than a week, Miami's Archdiocese is sending its first shipment of aid to Haiti.
The Notre Dame d'Haiti Church is packed with food, clothes, water, crutches – anything that could be used by people who are left to survive in misery.
"This is our time of humanity, this is our time of giving back, our time of coming together as brothers and sisters at this point," volunteer Rosenny Augstine said. "It's not about our race, it's not about our nationality, it's about the human society."
Twenty-five pallets filled with canned goods and supplies were picked up Friday morning at the church.
Now the pallets packed with supplies are being loaded onto trucks, ready for shipment.
The people moving them are Miami Fire Urban Search and Rescue members. They helped save people in Haiti after the earthquake.
"I feel great to see that we are not alone, that Haiti is not alone," said Father Reginald Jean-Mary. "And that's the greatest hope of Haiti."
As he watches all that aid loaded onto a ship, he's overwhelmed by the generosity of so many.
'Things are possible if we can come together as a nation, if we can put our hearts together, that's the first sign of the resurrection of the people of Haiti," he said.
Earlier this week Father Jean-Mary said they had received enough clothes and water but were in need of staples like rice, dry food, canned goods, first aid supplies and medicines.
If you would like to help, there are still several drives going on.
In Broward, Shooters Waterfront Restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale is collecting donations of medical supplies and clothing. Shooters is working directly with The Haiti Clinic. Items can be dropped off at the popular restaurant & bar, at 3033 NE 32nd Avenue, now through noon on October 17th.
Items in need include soap, toothbrush, deodorant, over-the-counter medication for children and insect repellant.
Students at Miami Dade College's North Campus are also holding a relief drive.
The college's North Campus is home to a large population of Caribbean students, many of whom come from Haiti.
"Empathy is the foundation of our campus culture. My fellow students care profoundly about the victims of Hurricane Matthew, both here and in Haiti. This tragedy strikes very close to home for us," said Alexander Delgado, Student Government Association President at North Campus in a statement.
The campus is partnering with the Haitian American Nursing Association to provide much-needed hygiene supplies and basic medication to impacted areas in Haiti.
Donations may be dropped off no later than November 2nd at two locations:
MDC's North Campus, 11380 NW 27th Avenue, room 4208
MDC's Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center, 6300 N.W. Seventh Ave., room 1109
A list of the most needed items includes:
Hygiene Supplies:
Bar soap
Razors
Washcloths
Deodorant
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste & Dental Floss
Shampoo
Hand sanitizer (8 oz only)
Combs
Latex or vinyl gloves
Rubbing alcohol
Medication:
Children's Tylenol, Motrin, Allergy, Cough & Cold, Stomach Medication
Adult Tylenol, Motrin, Aspirin
Gyne-Lotrimin (anti-fungal)
Silvadine Cream (Burn Cream)
Vitamins (Adults, Prenatal and Childrens)
Hydrocortisone cream
Hydrogen Peroxide and Alcohol
Antacids
First Aid triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
Bandaids
Gauze rolls/pads, Ace bandages (all sizes)
Water purification tablets
The U.N. humanitarian agency in Geneva said about three-quarters of a million people in southwest Haiti alone will need "life-saving assistance and protection" in the next three months.
For more ways on how to help, or to make a monetary donation, visit:
