MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Although the storm is still churning in the Caribbean Sea, some organizations are already planning their efforts to aid victims of Hurricane Matthew.
There are plans to provide food, water and emergency aid to Haiti, Jamaica and other areas after the storm passes.
As of 2 p.m. Monday, Hurricane Matthew was a Category 4 storm and moving closer to both islands. Dangerous storm surges, winds and rain are expected for portions of Haiti.
"There are many people, especially in Haiti, who have no protection whatsoever from the wind, rain and potential mudslides this storm is expected to bring," Food For The Poor President and CEO Robin Mahfood said via a media release. "A hurricane is the last thing Haiti and Jamaica need right now. We will do our best to help them to recover."
Meanwhile, a sense of urgency filled a warehouse in Miami Gardens on Monday as volunteers worked to pack boxes with medicine, clothes and other supplies to be shipped to victims of Hurricane Matthew.
"We're asking everybody if they can donate over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol, Motrin, Aleve, medication for gastrointestinal systems such as Zantac, Tums, Prilosec," Marjorie Lozama of the Haitian American Nurses Association said.
The Man Dodo Humanitarian Foundation moved up a previously scheduled delivery of medicine ahead of the storm, which has already turned deadly in parts of Haiti.
"The one thing good we have going for us is that the road from Port-au-Prince to Cayes is very good and I left there, I traveled that road late Saturday night, that road is very good," Jeff Lozama of Man Dodo said.
The group hopes to collect as many items as it can in the upcoming days in order to send out shipments as soon as possible to affected areas.
Food For The Poor has loaded trucks with rice, canned meats, rice-based nutritional meals known as MannaPack, first aid kits and blankets that will be sent to southern parts of Haiti that are expected to be hit the worst.
The plan is to ship 30 containers of relief to Haiti in the next two weeks.
One of the first shipments went out on Friday, as Food For The Poor sent six tractor-trailer loads of supplies to Jamaica in anticipation of the storm.
Donations are needed in order to aid victims of Matthew.
To help storm victims in Haiti and Jamaica, call 1-800-427-9104 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/hurricane.
Supplies, such as canned meats and milk can be dropped off at 6401 Lyons Road.