Damage by Hurricane Dorian at St. Nicholas in High Rock.

Jennifer and James Cooper, parishioners of St. Richard’s Episcopal Church, Winter Park, are spearheading the parish’s efforts to get much-needed supplies to the Bahamas. “James is from Freeport and still has family living there,” explains Jennifer Cooper. “We are so grateful for all the support our community has provided. It’s a true testament that God is so good!”

They plan to send weekly shipments.  “James’ father is an Anglican priest serving two churches in Sweetings Cay and High Rock and very involved within the island community,” says Jennifer.  “He has an understanding of what items the people need the most.”

The first shipment arrived in Freeport on Sept. 14. It was distributed to the parishioners of St. Michaels and All Angels and St. Nicholas Anglican Churches. That shipment included propane camping stoves, batteries, flashlights/lanterns, bottled water, canned goods, generators, building supplies, baby food, cleaning supplies, and chain saws.

The Cooper home in Freeport receives the items from the first shipment. St. Nicholas Anglican Church’s Deacon Welcott ( background) and Terrel, a parishioner, unload the truck.​

A second shipment is on the way. It was sent the week of Sept. 21.​

James and Jennifer Cooper take a break from loading the meals on to a truck. Five of the King children helped them. Troy and Christie King generously donated over 70 buckets of emergency meal kits. These contain 30 days of meals and will be crucial to many families in Freeport.

A 40 ft. semi-trailer will be loaded Oct. 14 with more donations. “As long as we have the funding and supplies, we will keep going.” ​

Funds are from a GoFundMe page. They have raised $9,057 of the $10,000 goal.

​PHOTOS: By Fr. Rudolph V. and Mrs. Mary Cooper

​Through the contacts of parishioner Sandy Pettit, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Eustis, was able to deliver survival packages to two isolated islands in the Bahamas before any governmental agencies could reach them. “My friends called me to help them out,” explains Pettit. “I was pretty sure that my church would help, so I got on the phone and told people what I needed.”​​

They sent 49 backpacks or duffel bags filled with emergency food and supplies by plane. “We filled them with pull-tab canned goods, water, blankets, first aid kits, and shoes,” says Pettit. “Many of the people had to swim to safety, so they lost their shoes.”

A few of the 49 duffel bags filled with food and supplies.

Pettit’s friends hired a plane and pilot to fly the donations to the Bahamas. There were five drops. “The government and NGOs (non-government organizations) are now able to take over relief efforts,” says Jeffrey.

​ “A lot of good was done in a time of great need,” says Jeffrey. “As we rejoice that Central Florida has escaped hurricane destruction, we heed the call to help those who weren’t so lucky.”

PHOTO: Sandra Pettit

All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Lakeland, partnered with businesses in Polk County to collect and ship supplies to the Bahamas. ​

Twelve pallets of water were in the first run to Fort Lauderdale. From Ft. Lauderdale, the pallets were flown to the Bahamas by Tropic Ocean Air.

PHOTO: Seaplane Pilots Association

“This was a combined effort with the Seaplane Pilots Association, Sun ‘n Fun, Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base, The Crooked Bass Grill & Tavern, and Flight Line Cafe & Catering, and Ft. Lauderdale-based Tropic Ocean Airways,” says All Saints’ parishioner Suzanne Grant.

Suzanne and her husband, Michael, represented All Saints’ in the relief efforts. “These businesses collected supplies and were drop-off points for donations from there,” explains Suzanne. “Sun ‘n Fun allowed their huge hangar at the Lakeland Airport to be a receiving station and a forwarding station once the supplies were packed.”

Donated items were placed on pallets and then covered with shrink wrap to waterproof the supplies. Suzanne and Michael Grant wrapped several pallets.​

​PHOTO: Suzanne Grant

Many people helped with packing once the supplies made it to the hangar.  “One group sorted supplies, another placed them on pallets, and then another group covered the pallets with shrink wrap,”  says Grant. “We wanted to make sure that nothing got wet.”​​

The outpouring was tremendous. “We exceeded Tropic Air’s capacity, so goods traveled by barge and whatever we could find.”

Anyone wanting to make a financial contribution through the Diocese of Central Florida may donate in any of these three ways. These funds will be sent to The Rt. Rev. Laish Boyd, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks & Caicos Islands, this week and will be used for Hurricane Dorian emergency response (e.g. medical supplies, shelter and food):

• Text “DCF Bahamas” to 73256
• Online via credit card, click here to this secure page
• Check made payable to “Diocese of Central Florida,” Memo Line: “Hurricane Relief,” Mail to: Diocese of Central Florida, 1017 E. Robinson St., Orlando, FL 32801