Devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic motivated members of the Coral Shores High School Interact Club to set up a donation collection point outside the Islamorada Publix last week. Interact is the high school arm of Rotary International.
The Interact students collected nearly $400 in cash and several times that amount in goods. The Upper Keys and Key Largo Rotary clubs will each match the cash amount and donate to the Rotary District that includes the affected countries. Donations through Rotary go directly to active Rotary clubs whose members live in the area. There is no overhead.
“Our school leadership classes and clubs are participating in a districtwide collection for countries impacted by hurricane Melissa,” said Coral Shores High School principal Laura Lietaert. “They have hung posters containing lists of needed items. We have overflowing collection boxes in pods and the front office. We are always happy to help others in need. We have been in their shoes.”
Terry Abel, Village of Islamorada emergency management director, pointed out that recovery from this type of disaster takes years and that having boots on the ground is an effective way to get help where it counts.
Anyone wishing to donate to hurricane relief in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic can find a link at keysrotary.org.
