After much consideration and encouragement from others who want to help in some way, the Martell family has decided to start a GoFundMe campaign for a family very close to our hearts. A family like so many others struggling in the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. Bradley and Stavencia Forbes have adopted Gerry and I as their parents and we have felt so very privileged to take on that role with not only the two of them but also as grandparents to their 1 year old daughter Raine as well as another daughter due to be born in the next month. Hurricane Dorian has taken everything from them - their rental apartment (photos shown here) and their personal possessions but even more importantly, their ability to stay together in the months to come and during the time that Stavencia will be giving birth to their second daughter. In addition, Bradley's father has lost his home as all that is left standing is the foundation. He is currently living in a shelter.

Given the extremely serious situation in Freeport (where they live), Stavencia and 1 year old Raine have had to be moved off the island and over to Nassau to stay with family. With no clean drinking water, no clean water to bathe in, risk of disease, no hydro and limited access to medical resources, this was a choice that had to be made. This was not an easy feat, as it was very difficult to access a flight out of Freeport AND it will be even more difficult for Bradley to access a flight or boat to Nassau to see his family. These services are extremely hard to come by right now and will be for some time to come. 

Bradley has had to stay behind in Freeport, to work in his job at the hospital (which has also suffered a great deal of damage). The hospital is extremely understaffed and so his services are needed and of course his family desperately needs the income right now. He is devastated by the realization that he simply doesn't know when he will see his wife and daughter again and also by the realization that he does not know if he will even be able to get to his wife when she gives birth to their second daughter.

This is only one story of one family in Freeport. There are so many more stories of families in need of just about everything. Bradley and his family, as well as these other families are in desperate need of housing, clothing and all the basics one needs to survive. One only has to tune into CNN for a few minutes to see the complete devastation in Grand Bahamas, to see the extremely high level of need and to want to do something to help.

Bradley and his wife (and entire family) have a very strong faith and of course are relying very much on that faith right now. They are members of a very close knit church community, a community of people also in dire need right now. We are starting this GoFundMe campaign in an effort to help not only Bradley and his family but also to help others that Bradley knows are in dire need of financial support as they try to put their lives back together. We feel that, instead of donating to large charities with huge overheads and administrative costs, we would prefer to raise money this way and thereby ensure that 100 % of the proceeds will go directly to support the immediate needs of Bradley, Stavencia, their family members and other needly members of their community.

We would appreciate any support you can provide and thank you for listening to our story. Please note that all funds raised will be accounted for and carefully documented. Also, these funds will used only to support the immediate needs of the people listed above.


Ann, Gerry, Montana and Brodie Martell