Pelican Point Grand Bahamas Hurricane Relief

Pelican Point is a small community on the eastern end of Grand Bahama.  Most of the people who live in Pelican Point are 3rd and 4th generation residents and they are saying this is the worst storm they have ever seen.  More than half of their homes were completely destroyed (down to just cement slabs) and another quarter are currently inhabitable.  Most of the residents of Pelican Point do not have have insurance.

Pelican Point, on its best day has limited resources and infrastructure.  There are approximately 20 families in this close-knit village.  This is an area where the one room school house shut down due to lack of government support and medical services consist of a visiting nurse.  Pelican Point is a 50-minute drive to the closest city, Freeport, and what used to be a 50-minute drive for supplies has now doubled.  There is an immediate need for electrical generation, refrigeration, and fresh water (the water tower was blown down).  Other needs will be transportation, building supplies and heavy equipment. 

We have been visiting this community for the past six years and two years ago, we purchased a house so that we could be a bigger part of this community.  The people we have befriended have become like family.  Bill, a local fishing guide and friend, with Calvin's help, started building upscale enclosures for trash bins, keeping the lids from flying open in the wind and creating a streamlined, beautiful addition to the scenic drive that invites newcomers.  Together with this community, Susan and Calvin have planted trees, fixed up boats, worked on houses, and spent many hours envisioning how Pelican Point could become a haven for people around the world. Bursell and Calvin often bantered about politics and religion and Calvin would bring Bursell barracuda to eat…one of the only residents on the island who would eat them! 

The community, being so small, does not always get the attention or support from the local and national governments, or the larger rescue organizations such as the Red Cross.  Overall it will take millions to repair the infrastructure and the homes and we need to get started!  “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

We are part of this small community and having run our own house building company for many years, have the skills and expertise to start rebuilding the village of Pelican Point, but we need your help.   Please empower us to do so.  There is a community that will forever be changed by this care and love.

 
Calvin & Susan Stewart
Silverthorne, CO
Homeowners, Pelican Point