After Hurricane Dorianravaged the Bahamasearlier this week, native Bahamians and professional basketball players Buddy Hield and Jonquel Jones are stepping up to raise money and donate to aid the country’s disaster relief.
Hield, a guard on the Sacramento Kings, and Jones, a Connecticut Sun forward, played youth basketball together and have remained good friends since both moving to the United States from the Bahamas to pursue their careers, theAssociated Pressreported.
Both players have set up separate GoFundMe pages in support of the country, chipping in money of their own and calling upon fans to also donate in support.
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“All of us have been blessed to be in situations where we can give back,” Jones told the AP. “God put me in a situation now where I can reach back and help my communities. If we do nothing, then we’re definitely taking what we’ve been given and what we’ve worked hard for, for granted.”
Hield, who also oversees the Buddy Hield Foundation, aims to raise $1 million for the cause, already donating $100,000 from his own pocket to his foundation and starting an additionalGoFundMecampaign, a press release reported.
“My heart is broken for my fellow Bahamians, especially on the island I was raised on, Grand Bahama. I personally know many people who still need rescuing, and there are thousands without medical help, power, food, or other basic necessities. Bahamians are a strong people, but they still need our help to get them through this,” Hield wrote on his page.
Additionally, Miami Heat Managing General Partner Micky Arison and his wife Madeleine, have pledged $1 million in funding for relief efforts, according to theSun Sentinel.
On Thursday, theNew York Timesreported that the death toll following Dorian in the Bahamas had risen to at least 23 people.
The storm destroyed homes, business and other buildings on the island, though Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said the flooding has receded in Freeport and Grand Bahama.
Though a “significant” number of people remain in shelters, most homes in Grand Bahama appear to have received only minor damage, Minnis said.
Bloomberg reported Thursday that damage throughout the island could cost the Bahamas an estimated $7 billion in damages.
source: people.com
