ITNAC, Living Water rally for victims

One week after the.11disaster, ITNAC team.11member Brent Hector.11yesterday told Sunday.11Newsday the organisation.11has mounted a.11major drive to collect.11food and items for the.11devastated island.

However, he said.11the effort was not only.11limited to Dominica.11but other islands within.11the region that have.11been destroyed by hurricanes.

Referring specifically.11to Dominica, Hector.11said the immediate.11needs were for canned.11food, dry goods, toiletries,.11baby supplies,.11over the counter drugs.11(Panadol and cough.11medicine), mosquito.11repellent and clothes.

He said there also.11was need for tarpaulins,.11cots, sleeping bags.11and blankets “because.11many Dominicans are.11living in shelters.”.11Next week, he said,.11ITNAC will begin collecting.11building supplies.

Hector said the organisation.11also needed.11cash to assist with.11shipping among other.11expenses.

People wishing to be.11a part of Dominica’s.11relief effort, he said,.11can make a donation.11to ITNAC’s Republic.11Bank account -.11510009446802.11He said the support.11has been overwhelming.

“People are coming.11to help sort clothes to.11help sort clothes and.11pack items,” he said,.11adding that people.11with vehicles can also.11visit the organisation.11to help transport items.11to the port or collect.11supplies.

Suzanne Dowdy,.11of the Port-of-Spainbased.11Living Water.11Community, said items.11were being collected.11for Dominica and other.11hurricane-affected.11islands through the TT.11For Irma Group.

The group was.11formed in the wake of.11Hurricane Irma which.11battered Leeward Island.11territories, Cuba.11and Florida earlier this.11month.

Like Hector, Dowdy.11said the island was in.11dire need of food, water,.11tarpaulins and plywood.

On Prime Minister.11Dr Keith Rowley’s.11appeal for TT citizens.11to open their homes.11and hearts to Dominicans.11for a period of six.11months as the island.11rebuilds, Dowdy said.11the community does.11not have housing accomodation.11to facilitate.11this need.

“But we are open, as.11a community, to whatever.11the need is. We.11will always offer what.11ever we can. It may not.11be housing but we will.11do whatever we can.”.11Hector said ITNAC.11has not yet had a conversation.11about the.11Government’s appeal.11for citizens to open.11their homes to distraught.11Dominicans.11for a period of six.11months.

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