Bahamian Hurricane Relief

Relief, recovery and reconstruction is badly needed in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian.

Please find your way to help the Bahamian people. Look around, explore the many good options available, find the compassion in your heart and do something good to help our island neighbors. Do anything, but please - do something. If you like, this GoFundMe campaign can provide an easy option for you to give.

It’s estimated that half of the homes on Grand Bahama have been destroyed and that more than 60,000 people are immediately in need of water, food and medicine. The death toll and suffering is increasing daily and is staggering.

Thank you to the donors who have taken us to over $4,300 in donations. Most of the donors know me. They know I spent 21 years serving in the military and most know I recently retired as an airline Captain.  Two careers with over 40 years serving others. Please help me serve the Bahamians.

They also know I can be trusted to find the very best way to get maximum benefit from their donated dollars - maximum benefit for the Bahamian people who are suffering just 70 miles from our home land. Disbursement of funds statements will be provided to each donor identifying exactly where their donations are spent.

Three criteria will determine which relief organizations and charities receive funds from this campaign. They will be vetted according to 1) exemplary ratings from Charity Navigator and Guidestar, 2) registered with and recommended by the Government of the Bahamas, and 3) confirmation of having personnel on the ground and operations established in the Bahamas. Your donations will count!

Our donations are growing as we work our way towards the goal of $500,000. The planned disbursement schedule to forward funds to selected relief organizations is once every two weeks or $5,000 accumulated, whichever comes first. That disbursement schedule will continue as long as relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts are ongoing.

PLEASE do not forget the Bahamas. They will need our assistance in 6 weeks, in 6 months and over a year from now. PLEASE do not slip back into your normal everyday routine in a week or two - the northern Bahamas is a hell hole, they are our neighbors, and they are suffering - PLEASE don’t forget them.

Every donation helps - small, medium or large. Please, look inside and find it in your heart to help. It’s so easy it’s senseless not to make the small effort. Please find your own way to give something, anything - and if I can assist you, please donate to this GoFundMe campaign.

”No one can do everything, but everyone can do something”

Thank you for caring! Thank you for giving!

Mike Alyea

Disbursement statement #1 - 9/17/2019 - total GoFundMe donations of $4,355 results in $4,214.59 (96.8% effective net donation) disbursed from GoFundMe direct to my checking account deposited not later than 9/25/2019. An additional $100.00 cash donation made directly to me results in a total of $4,314.59 to be disbursed immediately upon receipt equally to the following two relief organizations providing long term recovery assistance to the people of the northern Bahamas. Additionally, we will be adding $85.41 cash donation to bring the disbursed total to $4,400.00.

All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response - $2,200 donation
https://www.allhandsandhearts.org

Samaritan’s Purse - $2,200 donation
https://www.samaritanspurse.org

A total of 21 charities and relief organizations were vetted for this first disbursement of donated funds in accordance with the three criteria outlined above. Future disbursements will be made at two week intervals, or $5,000 accumulated donations, whichever comes first. Prior to each disbursement, we will again vet all relief organizations to ensure all donations will be used in the most beneficial manner to assist the Bahamas disaster recovery effort.

Thank you for caring! Thank you for giving!

Mike Alyea