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Barbadians at home and abroad are being encouraged to donate to a hurricane relief effort being jointly coordinated by the Ministry of Labour and a range of civic organisations, charities and churches.
The ministry said it has compiled a list of items to meet the immediate needs of those hard-hit by the passage of Hurricane Elsa, according to a government statement. These include clothing, toiletries, furniture and various supplies.
The labour ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of People Empowerment, the Barbados Defence Force and the country’s volunteer community – the “Third Sector”.
Organisations taking part in the relief drive include service clubs (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and Optimist), faith-based organisations (The Salvation Army, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the HUB of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglican Church), and the Barbados Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (BANGO).
The ministry urged donors to give items of “good quality”.
It said: “Food items should not be expired, while clothing and toys must be in good condition.
“There is a need for clothing for men, women, children and babies, as well as books, toys and stationery for children. Food items may include dried and canned goods, bottled water and baby food – bottled/canned.
“Persons donating toiletries may consider supplying the following items: tooth-brushes, disposable wipes, deodorant, lotion, soap, sanitary napkins, alcohol, baby and adult diapers, combs and brushes.
“The ministry is also appealing for furniture such as cots, beds, mattresses, chairs and tables. Equally, persons may choose to donate household items like pillows, sheets, bath towels and flashlights/torches, batteries, First Aid kits, kitchen utensils and storage containers.”
Cleaning supplies are also on the list, including buckets, mops, brooms, disinfectant, bleach and detergent.
In the rebuilding effort, U-panel Permaclad and 2”x4” treated pine will be needed, the labour ministry added.
Donations can be delivered to the Red Cross Headquarters in Warrens; the Salvation Army, Reed Street, St Michael, or the Lighthouse Centre in Speightstown, St Peter, according to the ministry.
Individuals or firms with bulk items, such as mattresses, tables or chairs, who do not have transport have been asked to call 536-2214, 536-2216, and 536-2228 to arrange for their collection.
