Residents' needs in Treasure Beach and Fort Charles areas are being assessed in a door-to-door survey.

The immediate/priority needs seem to be to replace roofs (or missing portions), to supply the fisherman with materials so they can again begin to earn a livelihood, and to give those who farm sufficient seeds to replant.

Today, Treasure Beach Foundation is distributing eleven "health kits" to responsible members of the community so they can assist others with non-severe medical problems. (Two kits are going to physicians who serve residents, often at no cost.) Altogether, the following over-the-counter medications are being distributed: 9,000 Ibuprofen tablets; 5,000 extra-strength non-aspirin acetaminophen tablets; 2,000 allergy tablets; 864 anti-diarrheal caplets; 32 tubes of Hydrocortisone cream; 20 tubes of Neosporin; 510 water purification tablets; 60 tooth brushes; one dozen bottles of mouth wash.

The Treasure Beach residents are very grateful that so many people have been donating to get them back on their feet. They never expected the type of compassion so many of you are sharing.

We have been so grateful for Karen and Peter Kennedy's presence in the last two 'Relief Committee' meetings. The enthusiam and fresh ideas have been very much appreciated. It is also wonderful how everyone is coming together and pooling all resources with the same goal being the upliftment of the community. We have been working hard on the assesments for the last two weeks and they are near completion.

We will update you as progress continues to be made.



Above! is Karen giving a medical kit to Mrs. Moxam for the Sandy Bank Primary School with a smiling Dennis Abrahams looking on.

Things are going exceedingly well. Needs Assessment Forms are being completed as quickly as possible. The situations we are encountering include people whose homes are totally uninhabitable after Ivan, some of whom have babies—and are crammed into others’ tiny homes—often with more than 20 other homeless persons.

To simplify matters—and to make our buying power stretch further—Treasure Beach Foundation will be working in conjunction with TreasureBeach.net and Breds.

Those judged in the most dire need for housing will start to receive assistance next week.

THE CHILD ORGANIZATION, INC.

The CHILD Organization has been working in conjunction with Rebecca, the Treasure Beach Foundation, and Breds. We have been directing folks who specifically want to donate to the Treasure Beach effort, to send money directly. We will continue to assist in supporting the Treasure Beach Relief effort

In addition, because several of our members are from all over the island, we also have to focus on other areas as well. We were able to assist ten families (with roofs) from the following areas: Newell, Bethany, Barbary Hall, and that badly hit area up near Lover's Leap (Yardly, I think). We are continuing our effort to assist with roofs.

Next, we want to assist in the rebuilding of a basic school in Manchester (I forgot the name)that was completely blown away.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank all our donors, and we continue to appeal to our readers to please keep up your support with all kinds of donations, so that we can continue to support the victims of Hurricane Ivan.
PLEASE LET ME HEAR FROM YOU (954. 791.4164; glashoney@yahoo.com)

To all my Treasure Beach Friends,

I wish you all well and so glad to hear everyone made it through. We wish we could be their to help out.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to you everyday and will see you all in April.

Keep the faith !

Love, Tim and Tracy

"I felt sad I had no shoes until I saw a man with no feet." It was especially heartwarming to hear a Treasure Beach fisherman say he now understood what this meant. He had tears in his eyes after visiting homes of the less fortunate to assess damage so the residents might qualify for relief efforts. He now feels "lucky" he only lost most of his fish pots--his source of livelihood. He is grateful that Treasure Beach Foundation has given him the opportunity to assist his neighbors in Treasure Beach.

"Down, but not out." It is just over three weeks since Ivan hit the South Coast of Jamaica with all his fury. Leaves are bursting forth on trees that had been stripped bare. The hurricane debris has been cleared from most of the lawns. Carpenters, masons, and painters are working overtime. Flowers and trees are being replanted. Floyde's Pelican Bar is being rebuilt. People are doing, not sitting. They are eager to welcome back the guests who have donated so generously. A good percentage of Treasure Beach tourist accommodations will reopen for business on or about October 15.

The residents' Needs Assessment Forms have been prioritized -- from most to least desperate.

Food supplies have already been procured and have been distributed to those that are going hungry.

In terms of housing assistance, we are endeavoring to supply materials to re-roof houses damaged by the hurricane. Because there will be insufficient funds to help all who cannot help themselves, we are doing our best to ascertain that each hurricane damaged house has at least one room with a roof. (Many of the families live in one-room houses.)

Next, in order of importance, will be assisting the fishermen and little farmers so that they will once again be able to be self-sufficient.

We are unbelievably grateful to all those who have contributed to getting Treasure Beach back on its feet. And, we implore anyone who's not yet donated to write and mail a check today. Please give back to those people who have already given so much to you.

Much progress was made this morning and we hope to start the distribution process tomorrow! Once this occurs, I will supply you with some of the details.

Thanks again for all your donations which will enable the community to get back on our feet much quicker!

Until recently, I'd never really attempted to raise money for a charitable cause. Hurricane Ivan changed that. Dramatically.

I have learned how much people care about those who live in Treasure Beach. I've learned how grateful people in desperate situations can be with even a bit of assistance.

Today, a woman who had to sleep in an old car with her children nearly wept with joy when we gave her a coupon for enough materials to re-roof a portion of her home.

A 13 year-old high school boy applied for assistance on behalf of his family. The eldest of five children, his father has been in the hospital with pneumonia for 2 weeks, and his mother is abroad. Due to the resourcefulness of this young man, his brothers and sisters will no longer have to sleep in the rain.

One hundred percent of your donations are being put to work to help people who ask for so very little. I thank each of you who's cared enough to write a check -- small or large. And, I am honored to act as a conduit for your donation.

It is now a month since Ivan hit the place we all love so much. Though we have done our best to provide assistance to the neediest, more cases come to our attention on a daily basis. If you've not yet taken the opportunity to write and mail your check, I implore you to do it today. I promise that doing this will make you feel good.

Dear Our Friends in Treasure Beach - We have just spent 2 hours reading the wonderful stories and articles about the love and respect everyone has and continues to display during the very trying days since Ivan. Our hearts go out to all. What we see through your pictures and news reports, is so beautiful. A wonderful village and its special people bonding together for the good of all. We continue to send our love and financial support to Karen and Peter Kennedy who have been a god-sends for all including all of us up here in the states who cannot be with you right now but have you in our thoughts and prayers always.

We say our prayers each night that tomorrow will be a better day than yesterday for everyone in Treasure Beach. With respect and love -

Danny and Cynthia Banner

EVERY BODY IN TREASURE BEACH WAS AFFECTED MY IVAN SO EVERYBODY SHOULD GET HELP AND STOP BEING SELFISH, WHY JUST GIVE TO CERTAIN PEOPLE WHEN EVERYBODY WAS AFFECTED.

I wish that was possbile! It would be nice if there was a pot of money that started to flow when disaster hit and continued until everything was restored. Since this is not so, we must use what we have as well as we can. Tracy, if you know of people who desperately need help, who have not come forward, please let the relief committee know. An e-mail would be more appropriate than a posting here, since you would need to name them and discuss their circumstances.

“Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.” The donations are not a magical fix for all damage, or a recompense for the loss. These are gifts that are intended to help start the rebuilding. That is all they are, not insurance, government handouts, lottery winnings for being in the eye of danger, or court awards for the destruction. These gifts are intended to make it possible for those people without sufficient resources to begin the work. And that is all the gifts are, help. The real work will come from everyone.

We can do much for each other without the relief committee. We do not need the relief committee to share fish and fruit, to hammer nails and wash bedding, to straighten fences and clear yards, to care for the sick and watch the children and provide strength to the old. Our neighbors will all need help, and we will all need our neighbors help. As I said, the real work still must be done by all of us.

Tracy, I share my sympathy with all Jamaica, Grenada, Haiti, Cayman Islands, and Florida. I am very grateful to the volunteers on the relief committee that I can help in one part of St. Elizabeth's, knowing how carefully the little money I can donate will be used. All their time and effort is a gift to all of us.

Yes, everyone in Treasure Beach was affected by the hurricane including us. But why should the relief fund help us when we can help ourselves. Have you not been reading the posts where it says that the persons who need it the most and have no other financial support would get priority. Would you rather every single person get one dollar or would your rather see the people that really need it get enough money or support to make a difference? Come on, stop complaining and contribute instead. If you know someone who needs the help why don't you go to the committee and state your case. As bad as you think it is for you, I bet there are others that are far worse off.

We're up to $16,663.41 due to the kindness of:
* John McCarty
* Mary Normile
(Okay, I admit I kicked in a bit myself as well; it was impossible NOT to do this after being able to witness all the good that was being done.)

PLEASE know that much more is needed, and your contributions (in any amount) will gratefully be accepted. Remember that 100% of your donations are going directly to needy recipients.

Thanks to Julie and Ken Fuleihan, Hikaru guests, Treasure Beach Foundation has now collected $16,713.41.