West Grand Bahama Hurricane Relief
Donation protected
Update here on October 8th. The Western side of Grand Bahama took a devasting hit from Hurricane Matthew (video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BLRRRVNBluF/)
and donations will now be going to aid the entire Western side of the Grand Bahama island, rather than just West End. We're working with Vida Hepburn Jr on facilitating relief efforts and getting supplies to the island. So please donate, share, post, etc..
Any little thing helps! The island needs as much help as they can get. Join us in helping those in the Bahamas that lost their homes and those that are suffering from severe damage.
Original Post
West End, Bahamas, was hit head on by Category 4 Hurricane Matthew on October 7. If you Google "West End" you will see pictures of pristine beaches, resorts, and million dollar homes, but what you won't see is the local village where some of the most welcoming people I've ever met live. They don't have a lot and their homes would worry most people to stay in, but that doesn't dampen their spirits at all.
Since 1983, my dad and his buddies have been visiting West End every year for fishing trips and I was lucky enough to start going with them 18 years ago. The people down in West End have become family, especially a guy named Danny who comes out on the boat with us on every visit. Not as a guide or local, but as part of our crew...family. The people down there really put life into perpective as they are unbelievably happy with not a lot. I've been to Danny's home and village numerous occasions helping with electronics and moving things after a day on the water and I can truly say it's impressive how positive people are with just the essentials for life.
Their homes are extremely unsturdy and mostly consists of plywood as walls with aluminum sheeting as the roof. I write this not to make you feel bad for them, which they wouldn't want, but to explain why I'm raising money, being that 150+ winds from Hurricane Matthew likely destroyed everything they have. Unlike most people in the US, they won't have an insurance company to help them out or an army of people coming to assist in rebuilding. They have a small amount of belongings which allows them to be happy and for that I ask you for a donation, no matter how small.
This village was in the eye of the hurricane, but will very much not be in the eye of the world as millions recover from the hurricane. I ask for your help since this hits so close to home for me and I know the people down there will need as much help as possible; for building supplies, clothes, AC, etc... I can't say the exact good your donation will go towards, but I can guarantee every cent will go towards helping Danny and the village of West End Bahamas recover from the strongest hurricane to hit there in decades. My plan is to get the funds to them as quickly as possble to start the rebuild and I will be sure to posts videos and photos as that happens.
Again, anything is appreciated to help the people of West End get their life back to normal so please share if you can spread the word.
Thanks a lot, Matt
and donations will now be going to aid the entire Western side of the Grand Bahama island, rather than just West End. We're working with Vida Hepburn Jr on facilitating relief efforts and getting supplies to the island. So please donate, share, post, etc..
Any little thing helps! The island needs as much help as they can get. Join us in helping those in the Bahamas that lost their homes and those that are suffering from severe damage.
Original Post
West End, Bahamas, was hit head on by Category 4 Hurricane Matthew on October 7. If you Google "West End" you will see pictures of pristine beaches, resorts, and million dollar homes, but what you won't see is the local village where some of the most welcoming people I've ever met live. They don't have a lot and their homes would worry most people to stay in, but that doesn't dampen their spirits at all.
Since 1983, my dad and his buddies have been visiting West End every year for fishing trips and I was lucky enough to start going with them 18 years ago. The people down in West End have become family, especially a guy named Danny who comes out on the boat with us on every visit. Not as a guide or local, but as part of our crew...family. The people down there really put life into perpective as they are unbelievably happy with not a lot. I've been to Danny's home and village numerous occasions helping with electronics and moving things after a day on the water and I can truly say it's impressive how positive people are with just the essentials for life.
Their homes are extremely unsturdy and mostly consists of plywood as walls with aluminum sheeting as the roof. I write this not to make you feel bad for them, which they wouldn't want, but to explain why I'm raising money, being that 150+ winds from Hurricane Matthew likely destroyed everything they have. Unlike most people in the US, they won't have an insurance company to help them out or an army of people coming to assist in rebuilding. They have a small amount of belongings which allows them to be happy and for that I ask you for a donation, no matter how small.
This village was in the eye of the hurricane, but will very much not be in the eye of the world as millions recover from the hurricane. I ask for your help since this hits so close to home for me and I know the people down there will need as much help as possible; for building supplies, clothes, AC, etc... I can't say the exact good your donation will go towards, but I can guarantee every cent will go towards helping Danny and the village of West End Bahamas recover from the strongest hurricane to hit there in decades. My plan is to get the funds to them as quickly as possble to start the rebuild and I will be sure to posts videos and photos as that happens.
Again, anything is appreciated to help the people of West End get their life back to normal so please share if you can spread the word.
Thanks a lot, Matt
Organizer
Matt Reder
Organizer
Chicago, IL
