In response to the devastating impact of Category 4 Hurricane Beryl on Jamaica, Consul General of Jamaica to Miami Oliver Mair held an emergency virtual meeting via Zoom with key community stakeholders to devise an efficient plan to send much-needed aid to the island.
Nearly 40 participants from various sectors, including clergy, business, and medical fields, attended the meeting, all expressing their commitment to support the relief efforts.
“Parts of Jamaica were spared, but some areas were badly hit and need our immediate support,” stated Consul General Mair. “We are working closely with several relief missions to ensure aid reaches Jamaica swiftly and efficiently. We urge the community to take action steps to get the right items to those in need.”
The Consulate is coordinating efforts through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade and collaborating with entities such as Food for the Poor, Caribbean Strong, and American Friends of Jamaica to maximize the impact of the relief activities. As the Dean of the Caribbean Consular Corps, Consul General Mair is also calling for relief efforts for Barbados, Grenada, and the Cayman Islands, which have also been affected by the hurricane.
How to Help:
- Donate: Contribute to the Caribbean Strong Relief Fund at the Miami Foundation here or through the Global Empowerment Mission at globalempowermentmission.org and Food For the Poor foodforthepoor.org
Persons wishing to donate to Hurricane Relief Fund across the USA Diaspora communities: The following Correspondent Bank should be used to wire funds via swift to customers of National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited.
Correspondent Bank Name: Bank of New York Mellon, New York Correspondent Bank Address: 1 Wall Street New York NK 10286 Swift BIC Code: IRVTUS3N Beneficiary Bank: National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited NCB SWIFT Code/BIC JNCBJMKX Beneficiary Name Office of Disaster Preparedness Emergency-Donation (Relief) Beneficiary’s Account # 212387304.
Donations can also be made to the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) Disaster Relief Fund. The AFJ is a charitable organization rendering assistance to Jamaica in the areas of healthcare, education, economic development, and social initiatives.
- Volunteer: Assist in assembling items daily at the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) from 10 AM to 5 PM at 1850 NW 84th Avenue in Doral.
- Purchase Items: purchase necessary items for delivery to the GEM Warehouse through Amazon Wishlist.
- Drop Off Items: Items can be dropped off at the following locations:
- City of Miramar city complex, police headquarters, and fire stations
- John Mullins Park, 2000 NW 55th Avenue, Lauderhill, FL 33313 (designated by Commissioner Denise D. Grant)
- Donna’s restaurant locations
- Miami Gardens police department
- Miami Dade County libraries
- Grace United Community Church, Miami Gardens
Transportation will be arranged for large collections of needed items.
Expired goods or foods to expire within six (6) months will NOT be accepted. Also, clothing or linen will not be accepted.
“The community’s response has been overwhelming, and it is heartening to see everyone come together to support those in need,” added Mair. “We encourage everyone to contribute in any way they can to ensure that aid reaches those affected by Hurricane Beryl.”
Read: Jamaican Diaspora ready to assist with hurricane recovery
