City of Birmingham now accepting donations for storm relief in Caribbean

The city of Birmingham’s relief efforts at Boutwell Auditorium for victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma will now include Haiti and other areas in the Caribbean that were hammered in recent days by the severe weather.

“We have had such a tremendous outpouring of support that we want to help as many areas as possible,” Mayor William Bell said in a news release on Wednesday, Sept. 13. “We know that the Caribbean and Haiti were hit hard by Hurricane Irma and we want to help citizens there, as well.”

There is a critical need for shoes and cleaning supplies, according to the release.

In a news release earlier in the week, the city stated that residents could donate supplies, canned goods and bottled water for storm victims in Texas and Florida, and that there was a special need for school supplies and diapers.

Volunteers will collect supplies at Boutwell Auditorium from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Friday, Sept. 15.

The city has sent 18 trailer loads of supplies to Southeast Texas and 6 loads to Florida, with supplies still coming in daily, the release states.

To get more information about items needed, call 335-4573.

CHAMGE MADE 9-14-17:, 6 p.m. The post was edited to add more information about the donation items requested.