By Donna Callejon | Director of GlobalGiving Disaster Recovery Network
In the two and a half weeks since Hurricane Dorian parked itself over the Northwestern Islands of the Bahamas and then roared across the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the GlobalGiving community has responded with determination and generosity.
More than 10,000 donors from across the globe have contributed nearly $1.5 million to the GlobalGiving Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund and the dozen projects posted by our amazing nonprofit partners.
The devastation on Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas has been catastrophic. Tens of thousands of families have been displaced and are in need of basic services, shelter, medical and psycho-social support. Many pets were left behind, and animal support professionals struggled to ensure the animals’ safety as shelters on the two islands were ravaged by the storm.
“My island is devastated,” said Errol Thurston, a native of Abaco who was fortunate to be off-island during the storm. “At the end of the day, we have to help people rebuild a community and that's where the money is going to come in. Because there is nothing left.”
International and regional humanitarian organizations swiftly arrived to bolster the capabilities of the region’s limited nonprofit sector and emergency response infrastructure. These groups are working alongside local organizations and residents to provide crucial relief and life-saving assistance. As with many localized crises, members of the community have organized, mobilized, and altered their work plans to respond to neighbors in need.
Life-altering devastation also impacted Ocracoke Island on North Carolina’s Outer Banks where homes, clinics, marinas, and roads were flooded—many beyond repair.
We’re gratified to share that GlobalGiving began sending crucial emergency funds within five days of the Dorian strike on the Bahamas. As of this report, GlobalGiving has disbursed approximately $150,000, representing contributions made by donors to both our general Relief Fund and to our partners’ specific projects on GlobalGiving.org.
Here are several examples of how the GlobalGiving community is responding:
Bringing medical and health services to the most vulnerable - The psychological impact of a traumatic event often takes a disproportionate toll on the most vulnerable members of a community, including the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, and infants. We are grateful for the quick response of our friends at International Medical Corps, who are providing life-saving medical treatment as well as psycho-social support, both in the Bahamas and on Ocracoke Island. Working in coordination with International Medical Corps and a number of other first responders, Jake’s Diapers is ensuring that the tiniest among the survivors receive basic products for healthy living.
Supplying fuel to first responders - Fuel Relief Fund fills a critical need in the immediate aftermath of disasters. Thanks to the generosity of donors who gave to the Dorian Relief Fund, Fuel Relief Fund was able to quickly provide much-needed fuel, powering first responders’ generators and vehicles and helping residents in remote areas.
Getting Families’ Best Friends to Safety - A GlobalGiving community nonprofit since 2012, BAARK! Bahamas has raised more than $25,000 and received a grant from the GlobalGiving Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund to evacuate as well as to provide temporary shelter, fresh water, and food to animals impacted by the storm. With support from funds provided by GlobalGiving donors, as of last weekend, Baark! had successfully supported and relocated more than 100 dogs and cats and constructed a temporary shelter in Nassau.
Demonstrating all shapes and sizes of generosity - Donors of all types have responded quickly. Companies are matching employee donations, individuals are reaching into their pockets, and small businesses are hosting fundraisers. We have been heartened to see many survivors of 2017’s Hurricane Irma “pay it forward” to support this relief effort. Cruzan Rum’s Island Spirit Fund has supported Team Rubicon’s emergency response efforts in the hardest to reach locations in the Bahamas and begin the cleanup process and preparation for rebuilding affected communities.
We are committed to ensuring your funds are put to work in the most impactful way possible and will be making additional distributions to our nonprofit partners during the next few weeks. Large or small, from £5 to $25,000, every contribution makes a difference.
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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When a disaster strikes, recovery efforts led by people who live and work in affected communities are often overlooked and underfunded. GlobalGiving is changing this reality. Since 2004, we've been shifting decision-making power to crises-affected communities through trust-based grantmaking and support.
We make it easy, quick, and safe to support people on the ground who understand needs in their communities better than anyone else.
They were there long before the news cameras arrived, and they’ll be there long after the cameras leave. They know how to make their communities more resilient to future disasters, and they’re already hard at work. GlobalGiving puts donations and grants directly into their hands. Because the status quo—which gives the vast majority of funding to a few large organizations—doesn’t make sense.
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