Image courtesy of NOAA
We're working with nonprofit partners to distribute much-needed solar lanterns and phone chargers in the Bahamas, following the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian. Hurricane Dorian reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane on September 1, 2019, as it made landfall on the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas, making it the strongest hurricane on record to hit the islands. The storm caused catastrophic damage to the Bahamas, before making its way up the east coast of the United States and, eventually, Canada.
UPDATE: October 4, 2019
It’s been over a month since Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas, and there is still a long road to recovery ahead. LuminAID’s partners have been on the ground since the hurricane hit, and will continue to provide essential aid as the affected communities continue to recover. From international aid organizations like Mercy Corps, to local Florida organizations looking to help their neighbors, we’ve been working with partners across the board.
Melissa Peverini of Bahama Relief Flight reports from Grand Bahama Island that, thanks to the LuminAID solar lanterns they distributed, “there was never a worry of running out of batteries. The children had a soft light around them to feel safe, a light that reminds them of the night light in the room they once had.”
We want to thank our partners, both large and small, for their dedication and hard work in responding to this disaster. Scroll down to read more updates and learn how you can help the ongoing relief efforts.
UPDATE: September 19, 2019
As of today, over 7,000 solar lanterns and phone chargers have been sent to the Bahamas for Hurricane Dorian relief, with more on the way. We are continuing to collect sponsorships through our Give Light, Get Light program, for lights that will be sent to our partner organizations on the ground.
Earlier this week LuminAID Co-Founder, Andrea Sreshta was interviewed by Chicago's NBC 5 and shared how solar phone chargers are being used in the Bahamas. NBC 5's Charlie Wojciechowski demonstrates just how easy they are to use and the impact they can have on a family without power.
We will continue to provide updates as we begin to get more details back from our partners on where LuminAID lights have been distributed.
UPDATE: September 13, 2019
Over 5,000 LuminAID solar lanterns and phone chargers have been sent to the Bahamas for Hurricane Dorian relief and more are on the way. Our nonprofit partners on the ground have begun distributing the lights and have reported a continuing need for light and power. Many families who are not in shelters are living out of their cars, as reported by Jose Andres of World Central Kitchen.
We will continue to provide updates next week as more LuminAID lights arrive and are distributed. We are also monitoring a tropical storm that may impact relief efforts over the weekend, due to increased rainfall and high winds in areas already affected by Hurricane Dorian.
In addition to fresh meals, our #ChefsForBahamas @WCKitchen team on Abaco has been handing out solar lamps, which can also charge phones! With no electricity in Marsh Harbor, it sometimes is the only light we see...many families are living out of their vehicles... pic.twitter.com/k32qTOmztA
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) September 12, 2019
UPDATE: September 9, 2019
LuminAID partner Mercy Corps is on the ground and 500 solar lanterns sponsored by our Give Light, Get Light program are en route to the Bahamas. According to Mercy Corps, the death toll in the Bahamas has risen to 43 people and is expected to rise further. More than 70,000 people on Abaco and Grand Bahama need life-saving assistance, but reaching the islands remains incredibly difficult. Mercy Corps is already distributing 2-in-1 solar lanterns and phone chargers, so that survivors can charge essential devices and access emergency services.
Mercy Corps reports: “We have distributed 100 solar lanterns so far, including 40 to a healthcare center in Marsh Harbor, 30 to a hospital in Freeport and, through a local organization called Hands for Hunger, 30 lanterns to the smaller affected island of Little Abaco. We have another 500 solar lanterns that we are bringing to the Bahamas.”
UPDATE: September 4, 2019
LuminAID partner organization Mercy Corps is on the ground in the Bahamas with LuminAID 2-in-1 lanterns and phone chargers. According to Anthony Lecossois, "We know there is going to be very extensive damage." See the full interview here.
UPDATE: September 3, 2019
Hurricane Dorian is a slow-moving storm whose strong winds and torrential rain pounded the Bahamas over the weekend. The extent of the damage on the islands is still uncertain, but many have called the destruction unprecedented. With the islands flooded and many homes destroyed, relief teams are already arriving to provide emergency medical care, search and rescue, and essential aid items. We are working with partner organizations including Convoy of Hope, Mercy Corps, and World Central Kitchen, who are deploying to provide food, shelter, and solar lanterns and phone chargers. Stay up-to-date by following @LuminAIDLab on Twitter.
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How You Can Help
1. Sponsor solar lights and phone chargers for the Bahamas.
Give A Light or Give A Phone Charger for Disaster Relief, and we'll send the lights to our nonprofit partners who are responding to Hurricane Dorian.
Your purchase covers the cost of one light that will be sent to one of our charitable partners. Through the support of customers like you, LuminAID has sent more than 50,000 lights to be distributed across projects in more than 100 countries.
2. Nonprofit Subsidy Program
If you work for a nonprofit that is collecting and distributing relief aid supplies or are organizing your own response, you can apply for LuminAID's Nonprofit Subsidy Program. Through this program, we offer discounted rates for charitable use. You can apply here.
3. Large Quantity Contribution
If you or your company are interested in making a large quantity contribution, please email us at nonprofits@luminaid.com. We have corporate rates for our Give Light sponsorships, or may be able to offer you a humanitarian-use discount on a purchase of lights that you would send to a charity or community group supporting Hurricane Dorian relief.
Please be aware that we are not a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, we encourage you to donate directly to a nonprofit, such as Convoy of Hope, Mercy Corps, or the American Red Cross.
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About LuminAID's Give Light, Get Light Program
