Posted by William Inniss on Sep 09, 2019
Tortola Telethon Triples Goal of $50,000
Despite the struggle of Virgin Islanders who continue to rebuild in the aftermath of hurricane Irma, the BVI Rotarians almost tripled their goal to raise $50,000 in their recent telethon!
 
The BVI Telethon Team reports: The extent of "Service above self" continues to be an action mantra of the Rotary family around the world but with the microscope on the Bahamas which was devastated by Hurricane Dorian, the outpouring of support is limitlessness. In 2017 the BVI was hit by what was dubbed the strongest hurricane out of the Atlantic. The territory experienced catastrophic destruction and the aftermath was nothing anyone residing in the territory was prepared for. Two years later, they have rebounded significantly. The experience put the community in a unique position of experience and knowledge to deal with such disasters. However, the three days Hurricane Dorian hovered over the Bahamas far outweighed the 17 hours of Hurricane Irma on the BVI.
       
Under the leadership of Assistant Governor Lorna G. Smith and District Governor Delma Maduro, a telethon was organized, and executed on Tuesday September 10, 2019. Each Rotary club in the BVI; Tortola, Road Town and Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town pledged $5,000 each as a starting seed. An unexpected gift of $50,000 came from a private donor provided a real kickstart to the event. By the 10.00pm over $140,000 was committed to aid the Bahamas. Before close of September 11, Rotary BVI raised $145,000.
 
AG Lorna Smith and her team expressed heartfelt gratitude to the many donors. In particular, AG Lorna said ‘I was particularly touched by the funds from children. There were children who called in $5 and $20 and we were so grateful for that’.
Relief Agencies News
Disaster Aid Canada reports: Disaster Aid Canada is working with our partners, Disaster Aid USA & Disaster Aid UK & I, to quickly deploy supplies to the Bahamas. Luckily, some tents were pre-positioned and have already been set up. DARTS are already on the ground setting up water filtration systems and handing out tarps. This week we have been putting tents, bed packs and hygiene items on pallets. Last night we were contacted by Rotary International to triple the number of items we were sending. WOW! This is a tall order but we know we can do it!  Together, with your support, and amazing partners we can make an even bigger impact in helping those that have lost everything in the Bahamas. The Disaster Relief tents, bed packs and hygiene items are being flown to Nassau. They will be set up at the Scout Camp by local volunteers and DARTS. Already on this site, we have set up the pre-positioned tents, water filtration systems, cooking facilities and sanitation areas. Thousands of evacuees have already arrived so all these supplies are very much needed.
When UPS offers to fly our disaster relief supplies (as a corporate donation), it means that the donations that YOU make all go towards the supplies not shipping. Working together, with everyone doing what they are good at, also means more people are helped! Thank you, UPS for the wonderful gift of transportation! You are fantastic to work with; fast, efficient and thorough. We appreciate it! 
 
Rotary Club and District Support
We are sincerely grateful for the continued offers of assistance both in kind, in cash and pledged.
100% of Rotary Clubs in Haiti contributed to provide a total of $23,000 for immediate use
PRID John Smarge in District 6960, west Florida is organizing 400,000 meals for shipment
Pledges of funds towards future Global Grants have been received from:
District 9211 in Tanzania and Uganda, East Africa
District 4895 in the Buenos Aires area of Argentina
Rotary Club of Saint Barthelemy in the French West Indies
Bahamas Rotary Clubs Action Report
Prepared by the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas Disaster Relief Committee Communications Team
As of September 10, the collective work of Members of the Family of Rotary has enabled us to:
  • Purchase 29 Bunk Beds for The Ranfurly Home for Children. These beds were still being erected and placed up to yesterday evening. 
  • Receive, register, and transport (alongside other partners) 5,684 evacuees to safe shelter.
  • Place 557 persons into private homes and hotels.
  • Support the transport of 2,043 persons into Government Shelters.
  • Receive, pack, and sort (alongside other partners) supplies for distribution to Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Shelters, and private accommodations.
  • Provide countless hugs, kind words, and acts of reassurance and hope to evacuees and their families. 
As Clubs, we have seen individual efforts that include:

Rotary Club of East Nassau:

  • Raising $190,000 for the Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund.
  • Supporting the purchase and delivery of bunk beds to the Ranfurly Home for Children.

Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise:

  • Cooking and distributing a hot breakfast at Odyssey Aviation for evacuee arrivals.

Rotary Club of Old Fort:

  • Leading the coordination of volunteers at Odyssey Aviation.
  • Providing legal drafting and technical expertise for application and licenses for people occupying private homes, printed all application forms, and provided home owners with licenses for signature.
  • Delivery of truckloads of supplies to various shipping ports and shelters.
  • Coordinating the opening of donation drop off spot in western New Providence at Caribbean Landscape and Old Fort Bay Club.
  • Sending letters to all members of Lyford Cay, Albany and Old Fort Bay Communities requesting donations to Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund.
  • Coordinating the shipment of 10 pallets of goods to the Rotary Club of Lucaya in Grand Bahama.
  • Coordinating with Shedd Aquarium to provide and transport relief supplies to Nassau for Abaco and to transport relief supplies from Nassau to Grand Bahama.
  • Reporting over 2,000 hours of community service since September 5, with 309 volunteer hours specifically at Odyssey Aviation (from 32 members of the Rotary Family and 10 other partners up to September 9).

Rotary Club of West Nassau:

  • Donation solicitation with items being collected at Poop Deck Sandyport. 
  • Monetary donations directly to the Bahamas Red Cross, Salvation Army, and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Rotaract Club of East Nassau:

  • Commitment to adopt (through the RCOB Shelter Support Program) the Salvation Army shelter.

Rotaract Club of Nassau Sunset:

  • Massive support of the supplies collection and distribution point at New Providence Community Church, seeing almost all of the members working at one time. 
Ways to Contribute
ALL DONORS:
To donate by Wire Transfer directly to the islands go to Bahamas Rotary Disaster Committee
Important Note: please be sure to advise in advance, the following details of funds being remitted to the Bahamas:
 
For crypto currency donations sent weekly directly to the Bahamas, payment may be made online at Delchain Limited
 
UK DONORS:
To qualify for Gift Aid, donate to Rotary’s Disaster Recovery Trust for Caribbean Hurricane Dorian
 
US DONORS:
For a 501c3 US Tax Exempt donation use any of the following
PayPal D7020 through Disaster Network Assistance
PayPal D6990 through District 6990 in Florida
GoFundMe for Rotary 7020 Dorian Relief
Rotary District 7680 DAF No. 574  via Rotary International
 
How to Donate Online
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