Following the passage of Hurricane Sandy last week Wednesday the Portland Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund (PHSRF) has been established. It was launched at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston today. The Fund was created after West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz called on Jamaica 's private sector to give a helping hand through an organized and effective Relief Fund that will help to systematically address the needs of affected citizens in the Parish.

The Fund is chaired by leading Dental Surgeon, Dr. Andre Foote with other Directors being Shelly Ann Curran, Entrepreneur; Paula Pinnock-MacLeod, Marketing Consultant and prominent Bankers Phillip Armstrong and Andrew Cocking. The Fund has thesupport of Portland 's Political representatives and civil society.

PHSRF Chairman Dr. Foote pointed out that, "After seeing first hand the widespread damage all over the Parish I realized that it will take an organized and herculean effort to get the lives of Portlanders in order. I had to answer the call. Many Portlanders are without roofs, many of their subsistence farms have been destroyed and many are simply not able to pick up the pieces and get their lives back on track without a helping hand. It is important for us as Jamaicans to do what we can to help in a truly effective way."

Dr. Foote went on to point out that several private sector companies have come on board to rescue Portland through pledges of cash and kind. Distribution will be done through our partner, Food for the Poor.

Hurricane Sandy resulted in widespread damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure and the vital agricultural sector in Portland . Thousands of Portlanders are reeling from its effects and are crying out for help in what is inarguably the parish's biggest disaster in decades.

Persons interested in donating can do so via the Portland Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund National Commercial Bank Account Number 351119322 and/or in kind by leaving items at 20 South Avenue off Waterloo Road in Kingston. The Fund has also developed helpportland Facebook and Twitter accounts. The Fund can also be contacted at Digicel 486-9383 or LIME 531-0698 and email helpportland@gmail.com.

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Note detailed Wire Transfer Information below:

Wire Transfer Information

National Commercial Bank, 1-7 Knutsford Boulevard , Kingston 5.

Account Number 351119322

Name of Account Portland Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund

Routing Number JNCBJMKX