For Immediate Release:
 September 26, 2008

Media Contact:
Jaime Hernandez
hjaime@miamidade.gov
 305-468-5451



Miami-Dade County partners with Dolphin Stadium, City of Miami, University of Miami for Caribbean Relief Drive


(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- Miami-Dade County has partnered with Dolphin Stadium, the University of Miami and City of Miami to receive relief supplies for Caribbean nations that were affected by hurricanes Ike, Gustav and Hanna, as well as Tropical Storm Fay.

Anyone may drop off donations of bottled water and non-perishable items at Dolphin Stadium, 2269 Dan Marino Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Fans attending the Miami Hurricanes football games on Sept. 27 against North Carolina and Oct. 4 against Florida State may also drop off their donated items at the stadium. Donated items also will be accepted at Dolphin Stadium during the Miami Dolphins-San Diego Chargers game on Oct. 5 and the Oct. 12 soccer match between Haiti and El Salvador.

Miami-Dade Police Department and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue stations also are accepting donated items. All supplies are being stored at a County-owned building in Doral. Monetary donations can be made to the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Food For The Poor, Operation Helping Hands/United Way, and World Vision.

Through midday Friday, the Miami-Dade County Caribbean Relief Drive had collected:

  • 303 pallets of clothing
  • 73 pallets of non-perishable food and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)
  • 23 pallets of bottled water

“The residents of Miami-Dade County have demonstrated their tremendous compassion and generosity for our friends in the Caribbean,” said Barbara J. Jordan, Vice Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. “However, we need more help. Supplies such as baby food and formula, diapers, wipes, rice, beans and water are desperately needed.”

Commissioners Jordan, Audrey Edmonson and Jose “Pepe” Diaz are working with the Office of the Mayor Carlos Alvarez and the Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (DEM&HS) to coordinate the delivery of these supplies to Caribbean nations.

The Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security is committed to working with its partners and the community to lessen the impact of disasters and potential catastrophic incidents. DEM&HS accomplishes its mission through planning, response and coordination of information and resources. Residents may access emergency information at www.miamidade.gov/oem.
 

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DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY