A local organization based at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Naples is preparing to send aid to Jamaica following Hurricane Beryl.
The Jamaica Outreach Program, which has been dedicated to serving the island’s poor for 26 years, says its immediate priority is to send financial assistance.
Jeffrey Meyerson, president of the Jamaica Outreach Program, emphasized the urgency of financial support.
"I think the assistance now should be mainly financial. That's either money going directly to Jamaica or money going to Food for the Poor , so they can get goods and get them down to Jamaica," Meyerson said.
The organization has a history of building homes for those in need, but Meyerson is concerned that many of these homes could be destroyed by the storm.
"In the Kingston area, there's probably going to be a significant storm surge, a lot of flooding, and a lot of these homes destroyed in these poor communities," Meyerson added.
Currently, two pastors from the organization are on the island, reporting back about the conditions.
"So right now, two of our board members, Father Colin and Father Rohan, are in Jamaica," Meyerson said. "We touched base with both of them this morning, and they're going to get back to us after the storm hits and things have settled."
Once Hurricane Beryl has passed, the organization plans to conduct a medical and dental mission.
For those wishing to donate, contributions can be made on the Jamaica Outreach Program's website.