Treasure Cay Family in Need
Donation protected
Dear Friends,
Over the last 40 years, I have had the privilege of traveling to the Bahamas countless times, specifically to the Abacos and Treasure Cay. I traveled there as a child with my parents and sisters, and as an adult with my husband and children. Six years ago, we decided to make a yearly trip to Treasure Cay a tradition for our family of six. Each summer we spent two weeks in Treasure Cay, and each summer was better than the one before. The six of us spent all year counting down the months, weeks, and days to our yearly visit.
That first summer, we met Louise McIntosh. She came highly recommended by my friend, Jackie Rasco. Louise met 3 of the kids and I at the airport (Andy and Andres traveled by boat). She greeted us with a big hug and a warm smile. She brought us two loaves of her homemade Bahamas Bread, took us straight to the supermarket, drove us to find a case of Kalik for our stay, and helped us get situated at our rental. She later picked up the boaters at the marina and drove them to our house with all the supplies that came on the boat crossing. This pattern was repeated for 6 summers.
Needless to say, Louise became an integral part of our trip and a part of our family. Each summer, she gave me a list of things she needed me to bring her from Miami. She never asked for much…school shoes for her daughter, a backpack for her daughter, clothing for her granddaughter, a fan for her house, and my favorite…lavender mistolin! When we were in Treasure Cay, there was nothing she could not and would not help us with. She found Andy the only mechanic on the island who serviced Suzuki engines when those were the engines our boat had. She found me a plumber to come at 9pm when the kitchen sink wouldn’t drain. She taught my children how to make Bahamas Bread. One night of our trip, she would come to our rental and cook for us...fried fish, cole slaw, mac and cheese, and peas and rice. She stopped by when she was driving in the area to say hello, and see if we needed anything. She told everyone we saw when we were together that we were her family from Miami. It got to a point where I had to put money in her pocket when saying goodbye to her at the airport, because she did not want to charge us for all the things she did for us while on the island.
The last time we said goodbye in person was on August 11, 2019. Little did we know that we would not see her the same time next summer. Three weeks after we said goodbye, Hurricane Dorian took landfall on Abaco and stayed over it for almost 24 hours. Treasure Cay was decimated. We did not hear from Louise for almost two weeks after the storm, when she was safely evacuated from Treasure Cay to Nassau. I cried when I heard her voice on the other line, and she was sobbing. She told me she and her family were okay. She lived with her daughters, son, granddaughter, and also a sister and niece…a total of 7 people under her roof. She explained that during the storm, they had to leave her house to another house, because water level inside the house was too high. Because of her age and health, she was among the first group evacuated to Nassau. She had barely eaten during that time, and no one had a dry place to sleep. Her SUV was gone.
A group of friends from Miami and I got together and began sending her and her family supplies…everything you can imagine from toiletries and food to money, clothes, bedding, mattresses…you name it. They had nothing! What little drywall remained on her walls, she had to rip off because of the mold. We have all stayed in touch, and had plans to do so much more, then came COVID. But COVID isn’t going anywhere, and Louise and her family still need us. We have started a Gofundme fundraiser to help her make permanent repairs to her house and to send her a car. The island is slowly rebuilding, but Louise’s steady income came from her car service. Without a car, she cannot provide steadily for her family.
Our goal is to raise $30,000 for Louise. With this money, we can purchase a used car here in Miami, and ship it to her with Tropical Shipping. Because she lost her car during Dorian, the car will not be taxed upon entering the Bahamas, which is a huge savings. With the money left after providing her with a car, we will send her monthly transfers to permanently repair her roof and the structure of her home. Jackie and I will administer the funds raised, and 100% of the money will go to change the lives of this family.
I am writing to ask you to be a part of this with me. Please consider making a donation. I know COVID has affected all of us financially, but no gift is too small.
“To whom much is given, much is expected.” We are all so blessed and take so many commodities for granted. Please help Louise and her family. I guarantee you, they will not take it for granted.
I hope you will consider helping me with this project.
Gratefully,
Andria Miyares
Over the last 40 years, I have had the privilege of traveling to the Bahamas countless times, specifically to the Abacos and Treasure Cay. I traveled there as a child with my parents and sisters, and as an adult with my husband and children. Six years ago, we decided to make a yearly trip to Treasure Cay a tradition for our family of six. Each summer we spent two weeks in Treasure Cay, and each summer was better than the one before. The six of us spent all year counting down the months, weeks, and days to our yearly visit.
That first summer, we met Louise McIntosh. She came highly recommended by my friend, Jackie Rasco. Louise met 3 of the kids and I at the airport (Andy and Andres traveled by boat). She greeted us with a big hug and a warm smile. She brought us two loaves of her homemade Bahamas Bread, took us straight to the supermarket, drove us to find a case of Kalik for our stay, and helped us get situated at our rental. She later picked up the boaters at the marina and drove them to our house with all the supplies that came on the boat crossing. This pattern was repeated for 6 summers.
Needless to say, Louise became an integral part of our trip and a part of our family. Each summer, she gave me a list of things she needed me to bring her from Miami. She never asked for much…school shoes for her daughter, a backpack for her daughter, clothing for her granddaughter, a fan for her house, and my favorite…lavender mistolin! When we were in Treasure Cay, there was nothing she could not and would not help us with. She found Andy the only mechanic on the island who serviced Suzuki engines when those were the engines our boat had. She found me a plumber to come at 9pm when the kitchen sink wouldn’t drain. She taught my children how to make Bahamas Bread. One night of our trip, she would come to our rental and cook for us...fried fish, cole slaw, mac and cheese, and peas and rice. She stopped by when she was driving in the area to say hello, and see if we needed anything. She told everyone we saw when we were together that we were her family from Miami. It got to a point where I had to put money in her pocket when saying goodbye to her at the airport, because she did not want to charge us for all the things she did for us while on the island.
The last time we said goodbye in person was on August 11, 2019. Little did we know that we would not see her the same time next summer. Three weeks after we said goodbye, Hurricane Dorian took landfall on Abaco and stayed over it for almost 24 hours. Treasure Cay was decimated. We did not hear from Louise for almost two weeks after the storm, when she was safely evacuated from Treasure Cay to Nassau. I cried when I heard her voice on the other line, and she was sobbing. She told me she and her family were okay. She lived with her daughters, son, granddaughter, and also a sister and niece…a total of 7 people under her roof. She explained that during the storm, they had to leave her house to another house, because water level inside the house was too high. Because of her age and health, she was among the first group evacuated to Nassau. She had barely eaten during that time, and no one had a dry place to sleep. Her SUV was gone.
A group of friends from Miami and I got together and began sending her and her family supplies…everything you can imagine from toiletries and food to money, clothes, bedding, mattresses…you name it. They had nothing! What little drywall remained on her walls, she had to rip off because of the mold. We have all stayed in touch, and had plans to do so much more, then came COVID. But COVID isn’t going anywhere, and Louise and her family still need us. We have started a Gofundme fundraiser to help her make permanent repairs to her house and to send her a car. The island is slowly rebuilding, but Louise’s steady income came from her car service. Without a car, she cannot provide steadily for her family.
Our goal is to raise $30,000 for Louise. With this money, we can purchase a used car here in Miami, and ship it to her with Tropical Shipping. Because she lost her car during Dorian, the car will not be taxed upon entering the Bahamas, which is a huge savings. With the money left after providing her with a car, we will send her monthly transfers to permanently repair her roof and the structure of her home. Jackie and I will administer the funds raised, and 100% of the money will go to change the lives of this family.
I am writing to ask you to be a part of this with me. Please consider making a donation. I know COVID has affected all of us financially, but no gift is too small.
“To whom much is given, much is expected.” We are all so blessed and take so many commodities for granted. Please help Louise and her family. I guarantee you, they will not take it for granted.
I hope you will consider helping me with this project.
Gratefully,
Andria Miyares
Organizer
Andria Miyares
Organizer
Miami, FL