Fundraiser on Long Island collecting items to help Hurricane Melissa victims in Jamaica
ELMONT, New York (WABC) -- As Hurricane Melissa moves away from Jamaica and heads towards Cuba and the Bahamas, a supply and fundraising drive on Long Island is underway to help victims of the storm.
People usually come to Nolan's Cuisine in Elmont for a taste of Jamaica, but on Tuesday they are serving up a helping hand.
Community members and Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages, the leader of the nonprofit True Tribute Organization, banded together to collect items for the fundraiser.
The biggest need is not food or clothes, but rather medical supplies. Items like batteries and flashlights are also being collected amid power outages across the island.
Community leaders say Long Island has a large Jamaican population and so the impact of the storm, while hundreds of miles away, was felt here at home as people watched and prayed while Melissa left a path of destruction.
Officials say nearly three-fourths of Jamaica was without power, and the western half of the country was hit hardest. Blocked roads and communication outages also made it difficult to assess the destruction.
Eyewitness News spoke to Nolan Alexander, the owner of Nolan's Cuisine, who has been trying to reach family in Jamaica.
"My grandmother is out there in Jamaica, last time we spoke was Monday on a FaceTime call. I haven't heard from her since," owner Alexander said.
"I'm sure she's doing OK, but she's probably not having wifi or anything to make a call or to reach out. I've just been praying with my dad, that's his mom. So, you know, just been praying to make sure that she's OK and that everybody else in Jamaica is OK as well."
People can donate items to the drive up until when Nolan's Cuisine closes at 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
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