MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) - Tens of thousands of pounds of supplies were flown to Jamaica to help those impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 pounds of supplies have arrived to Kingston following an overnight effort by four South Florida man who joined forces to bring relief to the island.
The people with cargo company 7 Air, as well as the groups 25 United, Helpful Harrison, Cheney Brothers and Armalini Logistics, all got together late Wednesday night to figure out how they will get all of those items to Jamaica.
The items arrived at the warehouse at Miami International Airport early Thursday morning. The aid boxes include an assortment of food, medical supplies, tarps, diapers, everything that they think people might need in the very difficult early days in the aftermath of the hurricane.
But before heading out to Kingston, Michael Weinberg, one of the organizers, video chatted with his 13-year-old son Harrison.
“I’ll call you from Jamaica,” said Michael.
The proud father said his son at just 8-years-old set up a lemonade stand to raise money for animals affected by the Australian wildfires. Years later, he pitched this joint effort to his father to help those affected by Melissa.
“I wanted to help out the people in Jamaica because I feel bad for them with everything they have been going through. Like how they can lose their homes and family members and that’s really sad,” said Harrison when asked why this mission is important to him.
Michael said his son is always looking at ways to help.
“One 13-year-old boy with a passion can change the world,” said Michael.
And in just a few hours and a flurry of calls, the plan to help Jamaica came together. The group of men from South Florida said everything happened quickly once they got word that the Jamaican airport had re-opened.
“The airport opened up last night at 7 p.m.. We got everything transported in to our warehouse here at the airport,” said Jose Rodriguez, Chair and President of TXG Group of 7 Air.
The groups tried to get all of the supplies from various collection points and bought food straight out, as they wanted to make it a point to be the first relief flight to the island.
With no time to waste, supplies were packed and the planes flew off the runway from Miami to Kingston on Thursday morning to become what appears to be the first relief flight to arrive.
“You see these goods and this relief effort and food being brought to people who, going on 48 hours now, need just some nourishment. These people are going to be sleeping under the stars tonight,” said Stephen Leighton, founder of 25 United.
7News cameras captured a largely empty Kingston airport on Thursday, an effect of Hurricane Melissa.
The items were unloaded and then turned to the prime minister’s office, who is responsible for distributing them to the areas that need them.
Outside the airport area, in the hardest most hit western part of Jamaica, at least one million residents remain without power and have their homes destroyed and in full desperation.
These are the people that, the South Florida organizers say, most need all of these items.
“The matter that we pulled this off so quick to get stuff here, I think it shows the capabilities of what humans are capable of doing to try and help others,” said David Armellini, President of Armellini Logistics.
“They know that we are here to help their community and that’s what we’re here to do. God has a way of healing and helping,” said Leighton.
Several more relief flights will be cycling in and out over the course of the next few days and the organizations will continue collecting donations.
For more information on 25 United and to donate to the effort, click here.
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