Hurricane Dorian Relief

04 Sep Hurricane Dorian Relief

Like everyone else in South Florida, all of us at A&S Reclaimed Wood are stunned by the images coming in from Grand Bahama and Abaco in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. The Category 5 storm was the strongest hurricane ever to hit the Bahamas and it doesn’t look like it left much standing. Maybe when everything dries out, they’ll be able to gather up some reclaimed wood planks that could be put to use in the rebuilding, but even that is doubtful. 

Hurricane Dorian was the strongest hurricane ever to hit the Bahamas. What made it especially devastating, however, wasn’t necessarily the wind speed – it was the amount of time the storm hovered on top of the islands.  

Hurricanes normally move at an average speed of 10 to 35 mph. Hurricane Dorian, made landfall on the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas on Sept. 1 and then, in a very unusual scenario, it barely moved for more than 48 hours. The idea of enduring hour after hour of violent winds and the storm surge that swamped much of the Abacos and Grand Bahama is the stuff of nightmares, but that’s what our neighbors (the Bahamas are less than 100 miles from the coast of Florida) went through. 

Responding to the Need

What Hurricane Dorian destroyed in about two days will take months, if not years to rebuild. The people of the Bahamas will need help to restore their homes and rebuild their businesses for a long time to come, but for now they have more immediate needs that need to be met. If you would like to contribute in some way, here are some of the organizations in Broward County identified by Boca magazine that are participating in the relief efforts:

• Miami Dolphins great Dan Marino of The RV Advisor and Gigi Stetler of RV Sales of Broward are donating trailers as temporary housing to affected areas of the Bahamas, and are contributing $5 of every The RV Advisor membership to fill a trailer with supplies for the storm’s victims. They are also accepting donations at RV Sales of Broward’s Davie location, 3030 Burris Rd.
• United Way of Broward County: The group is raising funds for relief, rebuilding and recovery efforts in the islands. One hundred percent of donations will go directly to the Bahamas. Donate to unitedwaybroward.org/donate.
• #IHeartBAHAMAS Relief Effort: Radio DJs Paul Castronovo and Amelia De Vita will be collecting relief items on Friday, Sept. 6 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, 527 SW 145th Terrace in Pembroke Pines. Visit big1059.com for details.
• City of Hollywood: The city is collecting water, non-perishable foods/canned foods, hygiene kits, baby formula, flashlights, batteries and other supplies through Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. at City hall and seven days a week at its six fire stations. Click here for the full list and addresses of drop-off sites.
• Press & Grind: The juicery and coffee bar is collecting donations to be sailed over to Great Abaco and Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas on Saturday, Sept. 7. Donations will be accepted through 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6. Items include bottled water, clothing, toiletries, baby supplies, canned goods, can openers, batteries, and first aid supplies. Monetary donations can be sent here. Press & Grind Café, 474 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale; 954/909-5316; pressandgrindcafe.com
• Freedland Harwin Valori, PL and Rotary Club of Weston: Freedland’s son is coordinating flights to the Bahamas to drop off supplies. Items will be collected at the Weston Hills Country Club through 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6. 2600 Country Club Way in Weston
• Fundraiser at Sky Zone: On Sept. 18, Sky Zone is donating 40 percent of all jump-day proceeds to Neighbors 4 Neighbors to support relief for those impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Sky Zone Fort Lauderdale, 1834 SW Second St. in Pompano Beach; 954/417-3999; skyzone.com/fortlauderdale
• Goombay Smash Cocktail: Through the end of September, Steelpan at the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach is donating 50 percent of proceeds from the Goombay Smash cocktail to the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation. 999 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale; 954/302-5252; steelpanftl.com
• Simon Malls Donation Drive: Through Oct. 31 South Florida Simon Properties is partnering with 305 Gives Back and the Imaginate Foundation to collect relief supplies. Donors will receive a free Savings Passport as a thank you. Accepted items: non-perishable foods/canned goods, Portable phone chargers, flashlights/lanterns, first aid kits, batteries, insect repellant and sunscreen, toiletries and cleaning supplies. Drop off at Coral Square, 9469 W. Atlantic Blvd. in Coral Springs.
• Global Empowerment Mission: The nonprofit is collecting supplies, donations and recruiting volunteers in all three counties. Contact Kara Skelley, 305/458-1029 or email info@globalempowermentmission.org. American Horse Trails Ranch, 4828 SW 198th Terrace in Southwest Ranches
• Brightline: All three stations in South Florida will be collecting water, food, medicine, generators and other supplies to be taken to the Bahamas by Tropic Ocean Airways. Check the donations request list and drop items off at:
  • West Palm Beach Station, 501 Evernia St.
  • Fort Lauderdale Station, 101 NW Second Ave.
  • Miami Station, 600 NW First Ave. 
• Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate: Coldwell Banker offices in the Southeast region are collecting donations to be given to Global Empowerment Mission. Items in need include generators, chainsaws, non-perishable food, diapers and baby wipes, formula and baby bottles, Pedialyte, sanitary/hygiene products, cleaning supplies, tents, tarps, flashlights and batteries, medical gloves, bug repellent, masks and life jackets and pain relievers for children and adults. coldwellbanker.com
• American Icon Brewery: The new restaurant is collecting donations for Bethenny Frankel’s bstrong charity—the restaurant will also donate 10 percent of the guest’s check when they donate. 911 NE Fourth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale; 954/500-4266; americaniconbrewery.com
• Quarterdeck Restaurant: The restaurant’s 17th Street location is serving as a drop-off locaiton for the Bahamas Strong Hurricane Relief organization. The full list of suggested donations can be found here. 1035 SE 17th St. in Fort Lauderdale; 954/524-6163; quarterdeckrestaurants.com

At A&S Reclaimed Wood, we believe strongly in giving back. A portion of all proceeds from the online sales of our rustic barn wood, our reclaimed wood planks and our other reclaimed wood products goes directly to the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami – Miller School of Medicine, to benefit Dr. Jacques Marcos’ Research (http://neurosurgery.med.miami.edu/). 

In the case of Hurricane Dorian, we know it could have been us and we are grateful to be able to help those who were less fortunate in the Bahamas.