Source: International Orthodox Christian Charities
Baltimore, November 4, 2015
International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is responding with emergency relief to Hurricane Joaquin survivors on one of the hardest hit islands in the Bahamas. Working in cooperation with Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, in Nassau, Bahamas, a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and with local relief partner, HeadKnowles, IOCC is providing building supplies for residents of Long Island who have started to repair their homes. Blankets, hygiene kits, school kits, and cleanup buckets are also in transit to the Bahamas and being delivered to families in need on the affected outer islands.
More than 3,000 people live on Long island in the Bahamas, but not a single one escaped the wrath of 130 mph winds or nearly 24 inches of rain. Hundreds of families were stranded without shelter after forceful winds ripped roofs from their homes or reduced them to rubble. Powerful waves surged over the hard hit island, flooding the islands and washing a freighter and numerous smaller boats inland. Four weeks after the storm, electricity is just starting to be restored.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Pray for those who have suffered loss in this disaster
that has impacted the Bahamas. Assemble emergency
kits. IOCC also anticipates the need for
Emergency Clean-Up Buckets which are in low supply. For
directions on how to assemble Emergency Clean-Up
Buckets, please visit iocc.org/kits.
Make a donation. You can help the victims of Hurricane Joaquin in the Bahamas with a gift to the Bahamas Hurricane Relief Fund. Your gift will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support for affected people in the Bahamas. To make a gift, please visit iocc.org, call toll free at 1-877-803-IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC, P.O. Box 17398, Baltimore, MD 21297-0429.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
CHARITIES
IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the
Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United
States of America. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has
delivered $534 million in relief and development programs
to families and communities in more than 50 countries.
IOCC is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition
of churches and agencies engaged in development,
humanitarian assistance and advocacy. To learn more about
IOCC, please visit our website at iocc.org.
Media contact: Rada K. Tierney, IOCC Media Relations, 443-823-3489, rtierney@iocc.org
