Texas Hurricane Iris Appeal

DEAR Brothers & Sisters:

As you know, there have been no shortage of disasters in the world lately, and on October 8th it hit home, when Hurricane Iris struck Belize, leaving behind the entire country, and especially the southern districts of Stann Creek and Toledo, in near total destruction.

The assessments released by Belize's National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) estimates the cost in damages to be in the hundreds of thousands in structural and personal items, and has made appeals for donations of food, clothing, water, building supplies, tools and other needy items for residents of communities in the South Stann Creek District and the Toledo District, whose lives have been severely disrupted.

The Ministry of Human Development, the City Management Emergency Organization (CEMO), and the International Assistance Committee in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are handling donations.

The Garifuna-Belizean Organization of Houston would like to be of assistance from Texas, with your help and contributions. Presently, we are focusing on monetary donations in order to ship what is already collected. However, we will not refuse any aid, especially if you reside in the state.

The following are suggested guidelines for relief goods in order to maximize our efforts.

1. Wherever possible we ask that you make monetary contributions either directly to the Belizean-Garifuna Organization of Houston, the Belizeans United in Dallas/Fort Worth, or to your local Belizean Association in our behalf. We will then consolidate the funds received, to purchase the needed materials at considerable savings and pay for its transportation.

2. In the case of material donations, our first priority is School Supplies for the children, then Baby Clothes, Baby Disposable Diapers, Flash Lights with batteries, Can Food, Blankets, etc.

3. Please pack all goods in cartons, and list their contents, so as to greatly facilitate the shipment of the materials and their ultimate distribution to the needy families.

4. In the event you plan to donate used clothing, please donate only usable items.

Kindly pass this appeal on to all your Families and Friends. Let’s unite in extending a helping hand to OUR loved ones in Belize. Our Homeland IS IN DIRE NEED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION

Carol Lewis
President,
The HOUSTON NON-PROFIT GARIFUNA-BELIZEAN ORGANIZATION

For more information and specific drop off points you may contact the following…

Area Points of Contact:

Houston:

Carol Lewis; Phone: (281) 879-8502 or (713) 851-7524. E-Mail Address: Dangrigalewis@aol.com

Killeen/Fort Hood:

Joseph R. Flores; Phone: (254) 616-5732, E-mail Address: JFlores@ctcd.cc.tx.us
Dallas/Fort Worth:

Dan Garcia; Phone: (469) 366-9572, E-mail Address: Digarcia@airmail.net

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