Island of Dominica Still Needs Help

I am heartbroken as I write this.  It is now almost 6 weeks since the island of Dominica was hit by Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017. While it is not my intention to minimize the hardship that other countries and their people have endured as a result of the devastation brought about by these natural disasters, it seems Dominica, the birthplace of my parents and island where family and friends still call home, has been long-forgotten.  

The impact of Hurricane Maria's sustained winds of nearly 160 miles per hour damaged more than 95% of houses and of those more than a quarter don't exist anymore.  All of the country's agriculture has been wiped out, the land stripped of its vegetation, a deadly blow to the economy that will linger for years to come.  Two of the countries main industries decimated; eco-tourism and the exports of root crops, bananas, oranges and grapefruit has left the people of Dominica feeling lost and helpless.

Of the reported 27 deaths and 34 still missing, my Auntie Lucy was taken by the Carribean Sea while evacuating her home in Scotts Head, which was also destroyed by the hurricane.  To this day her body has not been recovered leaving her family unable to fully grieve and reach any sort of closure.

The original goal of $5,000 has been revised to $2,500 with 100% of the funds going to assist the people affected in the villages hardest hit by mainly providing food, clothing and other bare essentials as well as to support rebuilding some of the damaged homes.  Having been to the beautiful island of Dominica myself, I know firsthand the hardship that many Dominicans experience on a daily basis even in the best of times. Well, this is the worst of times and they truly need our help.  And as soon as this fund posts I will be the first to get things under way by donating $100 of my own money.

With so many natural disasters occuring in such a short peiod of time, I understand the generosity of people is being stretched to the limit, but I implore each person reading this to reach into your heart and please make a donation, no matter how small, to help lift the hardship that the people of Dominica have had to live through these past 6 weeks, and will continue to face in the coming months and years. Thank you and may God bless you!

P.S.  While it hurts to view the devastation I had to include a short YouTube video for you to see how badly Dominica needs our help. Don and I met the three young Dominican boys in the photo who befriended us when we visited the village of Scotts Head several years ago. This is the vision I want in my mind, the look of happiness, not despair, because I know the individuals who will benefit from your kindness and compassion will know you cared when this campaign comes to a close, which  will be before the end of the year.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!