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Relief effort for Bahamas extended by local businesses

Orange Park Mall, Gordon Chevrolet, The Springs Church, Clay High collecting relief supplies for Dorian victims

For Clay Today
Posted 9/11/19

ORANGE PARK – The response from concerned residents for the people of the Bahamas was so overwhelming, the Orange Park Mall, Clay High, Gordon Chevrolet and The Springs Church have extended their …

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Relief effort for Bahamas extended by local businesses

Orange Park Mall, Gordon Chevrolet, The Springs Church, Clay High collecting relief supplies for Dorian victims


Posted

ORANGE PARK – The response from concerned residents for the people of the Bahamas was so overwhelming, the Orange Park Mall, Clay High, Gordon Chevrolet and The Springs Church have extended their collections of relief supplies.

All four locations will continue to gather materials to help the beleaguered island recover from the devastation created by Hurricane Dorian last week. The storm unleashed sustained winds of 185 mph, with gusts of 220 mph, as it stalled over the islands for nearly two days.

Parishioners at the Orange Cove Seventh-day Adventist Church on Fleming Island also collected a truckload of relief supplies.

The mall originally said it would collect supplies on Sept. 9. The shopping center decided to keep accepting donations of critical supplies.

The mall planned to help after Dorian essentially spared Florida of its wrath.

“The Orange Park Mall will be spearheading relief efforts for the residents of The Bahamas, where various islands have been hit hard by Hurricane Dorian’s devastating strength,” the mall wrote in a release. “While we feel extremely fortunate that the path of Hurricane Dorian spared the majority of our state, the devastation felt by our friends in the Bahamas will impact that area for years to come. We continue to pray for the well-being of our neighbors in the Bahamas and would like to move quickly with relief efforts. We are working to partner with a larger organization, but are counting on our community’s generosity, which has been an anchor for many during crises facing other parts of our state.”

All four collection sites asked residents to limit donations to items requested by the Bahamian government. They include, but were not limited to: water, non-perishable foods; hygiene kits like tissue, toothpaste, tooth brushes, towels and sanitary napkins; cleaning supplies like bleach, mops, brooms, garbage bags, sponges, clothes pins and disinfectants; baby formula, bottles, diapers and supplies; beds, cots and blankets; flashlights, batteries and generators; mosquito repellent (DEET-free); cooking utensils, disposable plates and eating utensils; first aid kits with bandages, gauze and tape); and, power banks, solar-powered chargers and portable radios (battery or crank).

Orange Park Mall also organized “Cards for Kids,” where children can write letters of hope and positivity to children in the Bahamas.

These can be dropped at the Mall Management Office, located just inside the food court to the right, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We are already grateful for the community’s overwhelming response with these efforts,” Orange Park Mall Marketing Director Chelsea Commodari said. “Keep the donations coming! Thank you in advance for your generosity.”