Support Relief Barrels to Bequia after Hurricane Beryl

2024:

This a newly re-activated GoFundMe, originally begun to organize efforts in 2021 after the La Soufrière volcano eruption, to support families on Bequia after hurricane Beryl.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines was hit by hurricane Beryl on July 1st and 2nd. It’s an island chain so very near and dear to us and stories of weathering the storm struck the chords that call to action. We have requests from friends on the island of Bequia to help in the aftermath.

Bequia was not the worst hit; others elsewhere have lost more. As larger scale relief tackles the larger problems, this fundraiser will send provisions and tools to one of the islands we know and love best.

Building tools are the first priority, followed by food, personal items, storm

support supplies like flashlights and batteries, and sewing machines.

The process of rebuilding is huge and complex.

Every step forward is so important.

Each barrel costs $55 to purchase, $95 to ship, and about $30 to receive. Currently the VAT is waived for relief supplies.

Funds will cover barrels, contents, tools, palettes, and shipping.

Thank you so much for helping dear friends and new beloveds pull up and move forward with love and grace in their sails.

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2021:

On April 9th, the La Soufrière volcano in the small Eastern Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines erupted for the first time in 42 years. It has erupted many times since and continues to be active.

This is a humanitarian crisis of enormous magnitude.

The island is home to 100,000 people. A fifth of them have had to be evacuated. Rock continues to fall, crops have been completely destroyed by ash, water sources and channels are chemically changed and potable water is extremely scarce. Walking village to village to beg for water has become a norm.

Government and large relief organizations are building their response plans and know that saving St. Vincent will require hundreds of millions of dollars and a lot of time.

In the short term, though, we have friends on the island who are pleading for help. They have communicated extremely specific needs for their communities and themselves, and we are staging to meet them.

FIRST RESPONSE: April 20

We shipped emergency water supplies and non-perishable food via DHL 3-day.

SECOND RESPONSE: April 27

We will pack 77-gallon plastic rain barrels with dry goods, canned food, hygiene products, and emergency supplies like flashlights and batteries. These barrels will ship on April 29th and are expected to arrive on May 13th. They will be shipped through Trans Caribe in East Orange, NJ at the discounted Relief rate of $65 per barrel. The barrels themselves cost $45. Finally, each barrel has a $10USD pick-up charge, which we’ll wire directly via Western Union.

THIRD RESPONSE: May 11

We will pack a second set of barrels on May 11 for delivery May 27.

Please help us to buy and fill as many barrels as we can!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CARE OF THE PEOPLE OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES.

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Requirements of fundraisers for St. Vincent and the Grenadines

1. Who: Chris & Danielle Merzatta.  

2. From: Morristown, NJ

3. Chris worked on Mustique Island with many Vincentian people from 2007-2010; Danielle for a shorter time but has kept up those friendships these last ten years.

4. Funds will be spent on very specific items - dry goods, non-perishable food, hygiene products, and emergency supplies- from request lists from families and community members in St. Vincent. We will ship individual barrels with mixed provisions to the seven families on our personal list and then bulk donations will be distributed from Barrouallie New Testament Church of God.