Main fundraiser photo

Rise Up for The Bahamas

Donation protected
RISE UP BEQUIA in partnership with the Epatoma Foundation, BREMOL  INC. Freight Forwarding and Consolidation, BREMOL, International Inc. Exporters in Miami, Florida, Tropix Shipping, the Rotary Club of Abaco and the Rotary Club of East Nassau are joining forces to conduct a relief drive to raise funds to provide drinking water/potable water and LifeStraws (water purification systems) for victims of Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas. A constant source of clean water is critically and urgently needed, required to stabilise the health for the victims who have lost everything. 


Over 60% of the infrastructure of the Abaco Islands have been devastated and as we wait for the full assessment from Grand Bahama, we know that important buildings including clinics, churches, shelters, fire stations, banks, supermarkets and telecommunications have been severely compromised and could cost "hundreds of millions, if not billions" of dollars to repair, according to the deputy prime minister. The population has been devastated, the unfortunate early death toll has risen to seven and people are still unaccounted for.  

Dorian, the 2nd strongest hurricane to make landfall in The Bahamas, has left a mark of destruction on these low lying territories and as of September 4th, the Government of The Bahamas, NEMA, CDEMA, international bodies and other associations are still in the process of conducting assessments to understand and give us an entire picture of the loss. UN officials said more than 60,000 people on the islands would need food, and the Red Cross said about 62,000 would need clean drinking water.

Rise Up Bequia has led several local, on-the-ground initiatives by way of educational and environmental projects catered to alleviating key social issues in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2017, we successfully ran our first Go Fund Me campaign which raised $23,000USD for 1000 tarps to Dominica that were distributed to victims of Hurricane Maria. We are now pleading to our supporters and anyone with a heart to not let the people of The Bahamas down and to give what you can with a generous heart and intention. 

The government of The Bahamas has put a 30-day waiver on all fees on items such as water coming into the country for relief purposes which means that we are hoping to raise $30,000 by the 24th of September in order for the shipment to reach the Abaco islands before that timeline expires. Each 40’ container will be packed with 20-pallets (40-cases/pallet) of water. 

The situation in Grand Bahama is still dynamic but it is our intention to also send similar relief to the island. Once we identify partners who we can work with we will update the list of collaborators to reflect such. 

Rise Up Bequia is in contact with LifeStraw to see what more can be done in terms of a partnership. This, as you can imagine is a developing conversation, and further updates will be posted to our campaign and on our Facebook page.
Demonstration of LifeStraws: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e99c4z0zkE

The deadline for monetary donations will be rolling but we want to be able to make our first purchase and shipment in the next ten days, by September 16th to ensure that water and the LifeStraws can be bought and shipped to Florida for safe packing and arrival to the Abacos and in the coming weeks to Grand Bahama.

We will coordinate the packing of more containers to Grand Bahama and the Abacos once fundraising is successful. 

Partners on the ground:

Tropix Shipping, The Rotary Club of Abaco and The Rotary Club of East Nassau

Who you are and where you’re from: 

Rise Up Bequia is a social activist group focusing on building and strengthening core ideas and practices of sustainable community development, education, agency and outreach.  Rise Up Bequia is a registered NGO operating out of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Our mandate and successful mission will demonstrate how acts of generosity, long-term effects of selflessness will contribute to active, healthy and sustainable local communities. For more information write to the Rise up Bequia committee at [email redacted] 

RUB Directors & Members: Holly Bynoe, Zoe Cordice, Solana Gooding, Kadeem Hazell, Shaveca Hazel, Narissa Hutchins, Patrick Hutchins, Megan Ollivierre,  Allena Osborne, Delma Osborne, Michael Peniston, Youri Phillips, Tavio Simmons, Trachia Simmons, and Joanna Stowe.
Rise Up Bequia's collection for the victims of Hurricane Maria which affected Dominica.

Epatoma Foundation is a non-profit in operation for 10 years that mainly supports education initiatives in SVG. They frequently partner with Rise Up Bequia on disaster relief, and they are now committing to help The Bahamas with these essentials. Main associate is Zoe Cordice.

The BREMOL family includes Brenton King, Molesa King, Kevin King and Candace King.

Bremol Family. 

Tropix Shipping is a Bahamian freight forwarding company that has been in business for over 25 years. Their key players are Alan Burrows, Brandon Burrows, Cassandra Murray, Fritz Petit, Deandre Ritchie and Romayne Reid.

The Rotary Club of East Nassau (RCEN) is a locally-based volunteer service organization, chartered by Rotary International, whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace in both our local community and around the world. RCEN has supported a number of local and regional humanitarian initiatives, has provided scholarships, and continues to work to better the lives of our entire Bahamian community.

Your relationship or contact to the parties you're raising funds for:

We are raising funds to assist the citizens of The Bahamas and in particular the people of the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama whose lives have been impacted by Hurricane Dorian.  Potable water and LifeStraws purchased with funds donated will be addressed to the Rotary Club of Abaco, a verified charitable organisation as stipulated by the Government of The Bahamas. The Rotary Club of Abaco will be responsible for the fair distribution of water and LifeStraws to the victims.

Rising up for The Bahamas. Design by Renee Caesar.

How will the funds be spent:

The funds will be used to buy drinkable water and LifeStraws. BREMOL INTERNATIONAL, INC. Exporters will be responsible for packing all of the materials. Tropix Shipping will be arranging for the delivery of these items in a 40’ container for a cost of $2,500 to the Abacos, their in-kind support will cover half the cost of shipping.

Cost for water is as follows: 20-pallets per container, each pallet contains 40 cases of water. Cost is $3,267 FOB at Miami Warehouse. The Rotary Club of Abaco will be responsible for distribution on the ground in Abaco. A Grand Bahama distribution partner will be named at a later time. 

Go Fund Me fees are as follows: transaction fees for withdrawal is 2.9% plus $0.30 per donation.

The withdrawal plan to get the funds from the campaign to the ultimate beneficiary:

Funds will be withdrawn by the officer of BREMOL INTERNATIONAL, INC, Kevin King and will be used to purchase the potable water and LifeStraws.
Donate

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $5 
    • 4 yrs
Donate

Fundraising team: Rise Up Bequia (6)

Holly Bynoe
Organizer
Miami, FL
Kevin King
Beneficiary
Patrick Hutchins
Team member
Solana Gooding
Team member
Narissa Scarborough Hutchins
Team member
Youri Phillips
Team member

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.