Area Governor of Rotary 6990 for Grand Bahama Lisbeth Knowles called it a happy day for Rotarians and residents of Hawksbill as dozens of sheetrock and building materials were delivered
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Freeport, Grand Bahama - Residents in the community of Hawksbill displaced by the wrath of Hurricane Dorian are even closer to getting back into their homes for Christmas with the delivery of much needed building materials due to the humanitarian efforts of the Rotary Clubs and District 6990.
The hustle and bustle of activity was a welcomed kick-off to the yuletide season for residents of that quaint community when the trailer load of building materials rolled in on Thanksgiving Day.
Area Governor of District 6990 for Grand Bahama Lisbeth Knowles was elated to finally get to the stage where residents would be able to see the end of a long-fought journey after a majority of them had to have their homes gutted and treated for mold due to water intrusion.
Rotarians strategizing their game plan on getting the building materials they were instrumental in securing to the homeowners who were affected by Hurricane Dorian so that they can get back into their homes before Christmas.
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“It’s a wonderful day for Rotary. We are here to give out sheetrock and all the supplies needed to install it in 60 homes in Hawksbill. We have been here for about a month. We started with the gutting of their homes to make sure we got all of the wet sheetrock out and after that we did the mold remediation,” she said.
Rotary has teamed up with GlobalMedic, a rapid response agency based in Canada, and Town and Country, a local maintenance company, which specializes in treating mold.
Seeing the joy on the homeowners’ faces was enough for the Rotarians who stressed that their efforts in Hawksbill, which served as their pilot project, and Hudson Estates, where they have already moved into would not be possible without the assistance of all of their local and international partners who have come onboard.
“We could not do this if we didn’t have the support from the community here on the island and abroad, our District 6990, the Robins Fund. A lot of people from all over the world have donated funds to Rotary and the relief work here on Grand Bahama,” she added.
Crews from GlobalMedic were on site in the community of Hawksbill to wrap up the mold remediation project before moving on to another area.
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“The more donations we get, the more we can do. So please keep donating and we will keep doing the good work we’re doing here. We’re doing a community at a time.”
John Nathaniel Hall, one of the first homeowners, said he has lived in the Hawksbill community since 1966 and has never seen a storm like Dorian. He lost everything to the seven-foot surge that flooded his home and destroyed all in its path.
“This is the worst experience I have ever had since living here all them years. Frances and Jeanne was a little scary, but never did I think I would see such devastation. Everything vanished away,” Hall said, grateful that he heeded his relatives’ call hours before to get out. “Thank God for Rotary who is giving us a little assistance and we appreciate it so much.”
The Rotary Area Governor pointed out that while they intend to lend their support throughout the island, there is a special focus on East Grand Bahama as it was hardest hit.
Hawksbill resident John Nathaniel Hall is overjoyed with all of the assistance and building materials Rotary has given to the community following the storm and says he is grateful to them and their partners.
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