Borehamwood charity sends aid to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian

Jewish supporters of a small Borehamwood charity have sent a container of humanitarian aid to the Bahamas, after Hurricane Dorian shredded many of the islands’ buildings.

“The container is now on its way,” said Rosalind Bluestone, who founded Goods for Good from her dining room table in 2014, having previously run World Jewish Relief’s Gifts in Kind programme.

“It is packed with mattresses, feminine hygiene products, warm blankets, and shovels with a value of £104,352. We now need to raise £7,000 to cover the costs.”

Companies such as Nike, Next, Puma, the Dune Group and Comfy Quilts donate surplus stock, which might otherwise go to landfill, and have stumped up for the 70,000 left homeless by the Category 5 storm, after 185mph winds swept through. More than 1,300 people are still missing.

Bluestone added: “This is the first time we have been able to send a container of humanitarian aid to a disaster zone. Working with our charity partners in Holland and the Bahamas, we knew that we had the capacity to supply some of the goods urgently needed.”

With more than 200 volunteers, the charity has distributed more than £18 million of essential items to vulnerable people in need in 20 countries, mainly in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Africa, and the Philippines.

Dune Group chair Daniel Rubin said: “We are delighted to support Good for Good with logistics and warehouses. They have an impact on hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged people living in challenging circumstances by providing them with essential items they need but can’t afford.”