NEW YORK, United States — Jamaicans across the United States have expanded their efforts in a more coordinated response to the massive relief and restoration programme now underway in their Hurricane Beryl-stricken island home.

Three California-based organisations — Jamaica Awareness Association of California; Caribbean Cricket Club of California, and Global Humanity Network are among the latest to join the effort.

At the same time, a Florida-based church with a predominantly Jamaican congregation has launched a drive to secure food, building material and funds, to assist with the relief effort.

The past students associations of Manning’s High School in New York, South Florida and Canada are also raising funds to repair the Westmoreland-based school which was badly damaged by the hurricane.

New York Chapter President Wilma Wynter said preliminary estimates of the damage at their alma mater had been put at $150 million, and it could be higher. She said the need for repairs is urgent so as to get the school in some form of readiness for the September start of the new academic term.

Mark Parkinson, president of Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association, said his organisation would be meeting tomorrow with the Jamaican Consulate in New York to coordinate relief efforts.

Patrick Williams, who is president of Jamaica Awareness Association of California, said work is underway to secure tarpaulins, toiletries, batteries, flashlights and possible funding as their main focus.

Williams added that his association “has taken the decision to assist, despite the fact that we just spent $112.5 million (US$750,000) on our annual education and health-care project in Jamaica — something we have been undertaking in the country for several years”.

Global Humanity Network Inc announced a five-day period to raise funds for victims of the hurricane. President Dr Laxly W Stephenson told the Jamaica Observer that their efforts aim to provide food and water for those at the lower-income levels in the communities of southern St Elizabeth.

Dr Stephenson said trucks are to be utilised to deliver water and food items in the areas identified with the greatest needs, and that at the end of the five-day period a reassessment would be undertaken to determine whether further assistance is needed.

In Florida, Viviene Reid, a senior member of Church of the Risen Savior in Marion Oaks, Marion County, Ocala, said the church is seeking to raise US$4,000 for food, building material and other items as their contribution to help those affected by the storm.

Rick Nugent of Jamaica Association of Maryland said the association is in the process of raising the equivalent of $1 million and is already collecting non-perishable items to assist with food and other essentials. They will be working through Jamaica Council of Churches and Mustard Seed Communities, Nugent said.

“We are committed to accommodating any specific projects or special needs that may arise, whether it involves facilitating the delivery of relief supplies, supporting community rebuilding efforts, or any other initiative,” said GroceryList Jamaica, the online company which allows overseas Jamaicans to purchase items in those countries and have them delivered in real time to clients in Jamaica.

The Jamaican Consulate in New York and Global Jamaica Diaspora Council for the northeast US are collaborating in identifying a number of locations in Pennsylvania, New York, and other states where items can be dropped off.

In the meantime Dr Shauna Chin, vice-chair of Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and representative for the west Midwest US, is urging people sending relief supplies to Jamaica to use the protocols established by the Government so as to avoid any problems that may arise and thereby ensure that supplies get to the designated recipients.