From Celia of the St. John Community Foundation:
On behalf of the entire community, I want to thank you for considering a donation to the IRMA relief efforts. Rest assured we will use your donation for IRMA relief in a fiscally responsible, conscientious and direct manner. Persons interested in helping Hurricane Irma disaster response in St. John can best support the relief effort by making a cash donation instead of sending donated goods and services. Cash donations to voluntary disaster relief organizations enables them to purchase exactly what is most needed – whereas donated items require voluntary agencies to spend money and considerable time for sorting, inventorying, warehousing, and distribution. We will get to the point of being able to do this for donations in the coming weeks. Check out our St. John Community Foundation Facebook page for current updates and valuable information about the response and recovery efforts on St. John.
To make a donation to the Foundation for St. John IRMA relief efforts go to http://thestjohnfoundation.org/donate
For larger donations and to avoid fees, if you prefer you can Mail to SJCF PO Box 1020 STJ-VI 00831 or wire the donation: Our Bank is Merchants Commercial Bank, St. John Community Foundation Inc; the routing number is 021 606 742 our account number is 2300 0 1976
As you may know, we were formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Marilyn and have been responsibly managing local and federal funds for over 28 years. We have a fully operational board who approves all funding (none of whom are paid) – feel free to ask us any questions, look us up on D&B, and Guidestar, etc. I can also share our Certificate of Good Standing with the VI Gov’t and our EIN # is 66-0463145. Your donation is fully tax deductible.
I am also on the Board of the USVI VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster), a nationally recognized disaster response agency and partners of local EOC’s (Emergency Operations Centers) and the territorial ESF-6 (headed by Dept. of Human Services under the VI Govt). Our requests and intentions for assistance will be vetted through them to limit overlap/duplication in response needs. We are in daily contact with Red Cross on the ground and FEMA locally and nationally and know what is available and are told how we can assist to fill the gaps.
The devastation of Hurricane Irma has left lives and properties in shambles, but the St. John Community Foundation and others are taking specific action now to put into place the resources to allow the true spirit of St. John to emerge from the wreckage. Thank you for helping us make that happen…our community is strong! We did survive and WILL rebuild!
In reply to offers to fly in to help:
Thanks for the kind, generous and welcomed offer. Right now the few accommodations left intact are prioritized for displaced residents and federal disaster responders (and food service is stretched thin as is) – I have added you to our volunteer responders list and know that many aspects of this recovery will take weeks, months and even years ….and we WILL need you. Stay tuned to the St. John Community Foundation Facebook page for clear informative updates . Many blessings to you – Celia
Praying God gives all the strength to get through this terrifically difficult time. Also that you get the help from the government that you deserve.
❤️ to SJ
Jenn,
Do you own your home in Cruz Bay or do you rent?
Laura
I rent. An article in the Hartford Courant said I owned. That was an error on their part. I messaged them this morning asking for a correction.
Jackie,
Why don’t you start a blog and see how you make out? On-stjohn.com is gone, the St. John Tradewinds newspaper and site sucks, and any other sites are mostly just hard news branches of St. Thomas outlets. Doing a blog is a lot of work and doesn’t pay much, either. You might not like Jenn but she did give you a voice, so you should thank her for that. Jenn could shut this blog down tomorrow. Then what would you do?
Jenn – Thank you for all of the information. It has been the most we have been able to find. I am still waiting to hear about my friend, Terry Witham. She is a resident of STJ. If anyone knows how or where she is please let me know!
Thank you!
Point of fact, there were a lot of other people that were sharing the same message as Jenn. They were interviewed by the Chicago Tribune and New York Times (probably other notable news papers as well). I have a home on St John and was lucky enough not to be there when Irma hit. Jenn’s blog was the only news coming through with the help of her father. She may have stated the situation stronger than some would have liked, but she got the message out, and I credit her largely with St John getting attention and support. Her blog was shared by many to influential people, and I am confident that St John received the needed aid faster and stronger than would have otherwise occurred if not for Jenn.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-hurricane-irma-st-john-20170912-story.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/11/us/virgin-islands-irma.html?emc=edit_nn_20170912&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=56015539&te=1&_r=0
Celia
Thanks for posting this with your EIN.
You’ll receive a wire this afternoon with a corporate match to follow.
Thanks to Jenn for this blog.
God bless our island.
If we are able, my husband and I will make a donation. We had a fabulous first time visit to St John eary this year, and planned to return this year as we love it so much! I am wondering if there is anyone we can write to in support of St John receiving all the federal funding it should to help everyone rebuild; we live in Virginia, and while I know I can call my Senators and Representative, I would like to know if directing letters to specific people in FEMA or any other responding agency in support of all that St John is and deserves to have would be of assistance.