September 04, 2019
By Florida Sportsman Editor
Old Bahama Bay will be the Command Center for all donated hurricane relief supplies in West End, Grand Bahama and is working in cooperation with the Bahamas Government, Local Authorities and NEMA-Bahamas (National Emergency Management Agency). Old Bahama Bay is the largest employer in the western district of Grand Bahama Island.
The Bahamas Government has granted approval to bring in items with no VAT, DUTY or CUSTOMS/IMMIGRATION ENTRY FEES however, this is not a license to import goods to avoid VAT and duty for personal use needs. We have an obligation to provide Customs and Immigration with detailed notification and itemization of when and what's coming in.
FINANCIAL DONATIONS: Our goal is to raise One Million Dollars. “We exceeded our goal during Matthew which greatly helped rebuild the village of West End and we are hopeful we will exceed Hurricane Dorian's goal as well since we now must aid not just West End, but all of Grand Bahama and Abaco as well,” said John MacDonald, HOA President, Old Bahama Bay Resort. “We are working in conjunction with Mike Schmidt's Winners Circle Foundation in this effort. Mike has held fundraising tournaments out of OBB for the last ten years.”
Go Fund Me: Our GoFundMe account is https://www.gofundme.com/f/west-end-grand-bahama-recovery and will also accept Tax Deductible donations on behalf of www.winnerscirclecharities.org
Tax Deductible Financial Donations should be sent to: Winners Circle Charities, 825 Parkway Street, Suite 8, Jupiter, Florida 33458. Payable to Winners Circle Charities, and in the memo please put: Hurricane Dorian Bahamas Relief. Donations are tax deductible. Funds can be received via PayPal using email address WinnersCircleCharities@gmail.com
Macdonald emphasized, “We are adamant that supplies will be received by those in need - not stolen or used by others to profit. We have created processes to roll out our recovery plans as efficient and methodical as humanly possible.”
HUMANITARIAN DONATIONS:
At this time, we are asking for the following goods:
· Bottled water
· Juice boxes
· Boxed milk such as Parmalat, and infant formula
· Canned food goods of all varieties
· Boxed food goods of all varieties
· Bread, peanut butter and jelly
· Baby food and related supplies
· Sanitary goods such as tampons, sanitary pads, and infant diapers in all sizes
· Band-aids and antiseptic type creams
· Charcoal and lighter fluid
· New clothing, infant, child, and adult
· Portable generators
· Gas cans
· Tarps and straps
· Flashlights
· Batteries of all sizes for flashlights
· Wipes, any brand for personal hygiene
· Pet food
· Aspirin, antacids, Tylenol
· Toothpaste and toothbrushes
· Soap
· Deodorant
· New spray bottles
· Blankets
We ask that all donated goods be neatly boxed, and a list of goods and quantities provided when items are dropped off as we must provide the same to Bahamas Customs.
FLORIDA EAST COAST DROP OFF LOCATIONS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH:
Strike Zone – Jacksonville
During daily normal business hours. Forklift available. Contact: Dave Workman 904-641-2433 11702 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246
Boaters Exchange – Rockledge
During daily normal business hours. Forklift available. Contact: Paulo Berube 321-638-0090 2145 US-1, Rockledge, Florida 32955
EMS (Environmental Manufacturing Solutions) – Melbourne
Monday-Thursday 9am to 4PM. Note: EMS is closed Friday-Sunday. Forklift available. Contact: John MacDonald (John Jr) 321-837-0050 7705 Progress Circle, Melbourne, Florida 32904
Four Fish Marina Daily – Jensen Beach
During normal business hours. Forklift available. Contact: John Fels 772-334-0936 2225 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida 34957
Waterfront Way Foundation Warehouse – Jupiter
Daily during normal business hours. Forklift available. Contact: Vicki Derrico 561-262-4130 825 Parkway Street, Jupiter, Florida 33458
Pompano Beach Marine Center – Pompano Beach
Daily during normal business hours. Forklift available. Contact: Jon Burkert 954-956-1450 701 South Federal Highway (US-1), Pompano Beach, Florida 33062
Ways Boatyard – Palm Beach Gardens
Daily during normal business hours. Forklift available. Contact on site: Gregg Hemingway 561-389-4831, Alternate Contact: Lacey Hagler 561-267-2674 2180 Idlewild Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Forklift Available
Stop Less Blasting – Boynton Beach
Daily during normal business hours. Forklift available. Contact: John Grimm 561-777-4649 817C N. Railroad Ave, Boynton Beach, FL 33435
FLORIDA WEST COAST DROP OFF LOCATIONS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH:
T.A. Mahoney Co. – Tampa 9am to 2pm. Forklift available. Contact: Captain Justin Santillo 813-765-3484 4990 East Adamo Drive, Tampa, FL 33605
Salty Shamrock Bar and Grill – Apollo Beach 3PM to 11PM. No Fork Lift. Contact: Sean Rice 813-477-0194 6186 N Highway 41 Apollo Beach, FL 33572
To Fly into West End Airport with goods
Prior to arrival you
must contact: Sergio Nativi at snativi@oldbahamabayresorts.com with the date of arrival, Aircraft Tail Number, Pilots name, and list of goods. Sergio will grant you permission to land. You cannot land without permission. The airport manager in West End is Ashley Smith.
Arriving by Boat with goods Prior to arrival you
must contact: Vicki Derrico at winnerscirclecharities@gmail.com with the date of arrival, Boat Name, Captains name, and list of goods. Vicki will grant you permission to bring goods into the Old Bahama Bay docks. Our Dock Master Kyle Wilchombe will be at the marina to assist in checking you in and securing the donations.
James Culmer, OBB General Manager will be overseeing logistics at Old Bahama Bay. His email is jculmer@oldbahamabayresorts.com.
For updates visit
www.facebook.com/OldBahamaBay
To read more about Hurricane Dorian and relief efforts, check out these stories:
As Dorian Looms, Resourceful Floridians Prepare
Hurricane Dorian and Bahamas Update
Treasure Coast Collecting Relief Items for Bahamas
