Hurricane Dorian relief Grand Bahama - Gambier Pt
Donation protected
Put yourself in the shoes of a Bahamian: you have no clothes, food, home, water - you may have lost a loved one and you are suffering from PTSD - your life has been flipped upside down in an instant and you can’t see a way out. Communities which were flourishing and self reliant are now destitute and destroyed. Please help these wonderful people begin to rebuild their homes, communities, and lives.
My name is Chuck McLaughlin, and I'm raising money to help rebuild the community of Gambier Point, Grand Bahama.
I first started going to Grand Bahama in the early 2000’s. I fell in love with the island for its beaches, fishing, and sunshine; it was beautiful. The subtropical landscape was lush and filled with plants and trees that I could not grow or see at my home in Maine. I decided to build a house for my family and started spending time there, fishing and enjoying the beaches. I started meeting the Bahamian locals who I quickly learned were humorous, trustworthy and incredibly welcoming and warm.
So you can imagine my horror at watching Dorian destroy the island before my eyes on TV, as I prayed that our Bahamian friends would survive.
The damage is unimaginable. A hurricane with 180 mph winds spent more than 2 days pretty much stationary over the East End. Settlements on the East End (the towns of Freetown, Gambier Point, Bevens Town, High Rock) have been completely destroyed. Houses have literally disappeared - swept away - but what’s even more unimaginably bleak? The Bahamian Government is nowhere to be seen. It’s been over a week since the storm hit and people have no resources - and no government official has even stepped foot in the east end to provide a bottle of water or even see the damage.
The Island is facing a humanitarian crisis that almost defies comprehension. 70,000 people have lost their homes. They lack the most basic of items - food, water and shelter. Fortunately, the response from the US and other nations has been fast and decisive. Residents of Florida are filling their boats with supplies and bringing them to the Island. Currently, Dorian and its aftermath are getting lots of news coverage. However, as we all know, that coverage will soon fade away and the problems created by Dorian will remain, if not intensify.
Gambier Point is located 25 miles east of Freeport. The families that lived there have done so for generations. Some people commuted to Freeport. They lived there because they did not want to live in the more urban Freeport. Others worked at the local Bonefish Club cooking, cleaning etc. Others made their living from the sea catching fish, lobster and conch.
The residents of Gambier Point lost everything. One elderly couple and their grandchild spent 2 days clinging to what was left of the rafters of their roof as the storm surge took everything that they own from them. All they have left are the clothes that they were wearing. They do not have reserves to draw from. The Bahamian Government will do nothing. The goal of this Go Fund Me page is to raise money for the residents of Gambier Point to start to rebuild their lives. Every penny raised will be used to buy materials to rebuild the homes that were lost. If we raise enough money we will then use those funds to help residents of other settlements rebuild their lives.
My name is Chuck McLaughlin, and I'm raising money to help rebuild the community of Gambier Point, Grand Bahama.
I first started going to Grand Bahama in the early 2000’s. I fell in love with the island for its beaches, fishing, and sunshine; it was beautiful. The subtropical landscape was lush and filled with plants and trees that I could not grow or see at my home in Maine. I decided to build a house for my family and started spending time there, fishing and enjoying the beaches. I started meeting the Bahamian locals who I quickly learned were humorous, trustworthy and incredibly welcoming and warm.
So you can imagine my horror at watching Dorian destroy the island before my eyes on TV, as I prayed that our Bahamian friends would survive.
The damage is unimaginable. A hurricane with 180 mph winds spent more than 2 days pretty much stationary over the East End. Settlements on the East End (the towns of Freetown, Gambier Point, Bevens Town, High Rock) have been completely destroyed. Houses have literally disappeared - swept away - but what’s even more unimaginably bleak? The Bahamian Government is nowhere to be seen. It’s been over a week since the storm hit and people have no resources - and no government official has even stepped foot in the east end to provide a bottle of water or even see the damage.
The Island is facing a humanitarian crisis that almost defies comprehension. 70,000 people have lost their homes. They lack the most basic of items - food, water and shelter. Fortunately, the response from the US and other nations has been fast and decisive. Residents of Florida are filling their boats with supplies and bringing them to the Island. Currently, Dorian and its aftermath are getting lots of news coverage. However, as we all know, that coverage will soon fade away and the problems created by Dorian will remain, if not intensify.
Gambier Point is located 25 miles east of Freeport. The families that lived there have done so for generations. Some people commuted to Freeport. They lived there because they did not want to live in the more urban Freeport. Others worked at the local Bonefish Club cooking, cleaning etc. Others made their living from the sea catching fish, lobster and conch.
The residents of Gambier Point lost everything. One elderly couple and their grandchild spent 2 days clinging to what was left of the rafters of their roof as the storm surge took everything that they own from them. All they have left are the clothes that they were wearing. They do not have reserves to draw from. The Bahamian Government will do nothing. The goal of this Go Fund Me page is to raise money for the residents of Gambier Point to start to rebuild their lives. Every penny raised will be used to buy materials to rebuild the homes that were lost. If we raise enough money we will then use those funds to help residents of other settlements rebuild their lives.
Organizer
Charles Mclaughlin
Organizer
Kennebunkport, ME