The National Commercial Bank of Jamaica announced that they were pledging up to JA$100,000,000 for matching funds to be available to any organization within Jamaica which could prove efforts in raising funds for Ivan releif. If an organization submits X amount of dollars and can give them proof that those funds will go for Ivan Relief efforts, then they would look at possibly matching those funds. Thanks to working with The Treasure Beach Women's Group and BREDS, both recognized charitable organizations within Jamaica, we were able to apply for this program. Special thanks has to go out here to Patty Shannon, US Peace Corp Volunteer, who has been working around the clock to fill out the multi paged form needed to submit along with the funding.

She outlined all that has been accomplished so far in the Treasure Beach relief efforts including the US $20,000 worth of hardware store coupons given out to 126 residents from Ft. Charles to Great Bay; the US $3,000 worth of coupons given out to 70 farmers from Ft. Charles to Great Bay and seeds and fertilizer worth US $1,500 given out to the farmers in the Postdam community; the US $13,500 used to purchase rolls of wire and rope for the fishermen allowing them to purchase them at half price and less than half price, utilizing a signed contract stating that the money they pay back will go into a long term disaster relief fund for fishermen;, and the US$2,500 allocated for use to put the lights back on the fishing beaches and general cleaning of the beaches, all totalling US $40,500. Whew, when I put it down like that, together folks, we have accomplished so much!

We should know if we qualify for the matching funds soon. If we do get them, the first project we have choosen to work on is getting the beaches back in shape. So once we have access to this funding, which we are hoping for by next week, we will be able to start spending it on continued beach clean-up and restoration. The relief committee held a 'brain storming' session a few days ago to come up with other ideas on how to utilize these additional funds with the goal being to help as many people as possible preferably in projects that will see long term and on-going results.

No decisions have been made yet since we are not sure if the funds will be awarded to us, but we hope to know next week. We'll keep you posted.

Thanks must always go out to all of you who have so generously donated. Without you, none of this would be possible and we are so very grateful.

Great News
Hope you qualify.

Hi
Just thinking about some Christmas shopping in England and wondering if Sandy Bank are in need of anything useful for the children which would be light and easy to pack. We are coming over in January and I know it's a little late for Christmas but better late than never.Many thanks.
Love to everyone on this cold and wet night in Manchester...wish we were there now!

More kindness, more donations ...

We've added another $535 to what Treasure Beach Foundation has collected due to the generosity of:

* Chelsea Harriman
* Mabel Hudson
* Paul Smith, and
* Pamela Young

Treasure Beach Foundation has now collected more than $18,600 -- thanks to so many caring, sharing people.

(And, we've got our fingers crossed on those matching funds.)