MIAMI, Fla. – Hurricane Iota is forecast to hit Honduras as a Category 5 storm and is expected to be devastating.
Throughout Florida, necessary items are being gathered to help those who will be affected after the storm.
At the Global Empowerment Mission in Miami, they are working around the clock to fill trailers, then send them out. Once one leaves, another trailer will pull in to be filled. All of the items will be going directly to the areas affected, according to officials at GEM.
Martha Hernandez, who is spearheading donation drive Amor Y Fuerza Honduras in Doral, has family in Honduras. “At moments, I start crying, but I need to keep it together because we need to continue working hard.” She said the concern for her family and scores of others is very real.
“What I can do here in Miami is help them and pray,” Hernandez said.
GEM said anyone who is looking for volunteers, they could use them. If you can operate a forklift, drive a truck, make calls, or do anything, they would like to hear from you.
“We want to be down on the ground as quickly as possible and reach the maximum amount of people in the least amount of time with the most amount of resources,” Crystal Lee, vice president of logistics, Global Empowerment Movement, said.
“The things they might have had in their home to protect their family might not be there, so we need to quickly replace that as well so that as the storm hits, they are also not dealing with the added crisis of COVID on top of it," Lee said.
For donations, there are only certain items that are being accepted, however, so all of the sites are asking for these specifics.
- Non-perishable foods in large quantities (canned goods, cereals, etc.)
- Over-the-counter medicines, bandages, gauze, first-aid kits
- Sleeping bags
- Tents
- Tarps
- Baby supplies
- Water
- Toilet paper
- Do not donate used clothing; they are in need of new items: bras, underwear and socks.
Where to Donate
GEM warehouse, 1148 Northwest 72nd St., Miami, (800) 995-7604.
Amor Y Fuerza Honduras, 1520 Northwest 79th Ave., Doral. Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (305) 454-3031 or (786) 537-0020.
Samaria Beauty Supply locations, Hours: Monday through Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
9801 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, (954) 613-7554
8360 Bird Road, Miami, (305) 222-9099
8901 Southwest 157th Ave., Kendall, (305) 387-8788
3118 West 76th St., Hialeah, (786) 655-0968
1534 West 49th St., Hialeah, (305) 557-6025
Food for the Poor, weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, (954) 427-2222