Miami Area Responds To Hurricane Harvey Victims

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Having lived through some of the worst hurricanes ever to hit the United States, the Miami area has been quick to respond to the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana. Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine has donated $10,000 of his own money to the relief effort while the Miami Dolphins sent truckloads of supplies from Hard Rock Stadium on Friday. Earlier this week Royal Caribbean loaded its Liberty of the Seas passenger ship with $200,000 in supplies to help storm victims.

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"Here in Miami Beach we know what unexpected flooding can do and how a community can be impacted by excessive rain or natural disasters such as hurricanes," Levine told residents on Friday and urged them to support the relief effort. "Let's continue to help support disaster relief and the long-term recovery efforts in Texas. Today, it is Texas and Louisiana; tomorrow it can be Florida." (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Beach Patch.)

Three Miami Beach Commissioners — Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, Michael Grieco and John Elizabeth Aleman—are hosting a fundraiser to help the the Texas diaper Bank on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at South Pointe Tavern in Miami Beach from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The tavern is located at 40 South Pointe Drive.

Dolphins players Xavien Howard and Michael Thomas pitched in on Friday with team staff and volunteers from the AARP Foundation. The team has partnereed with All My Sons Moving & Storage to pack and send trucks loaded with donated goods from South Florida.

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"Howard and Thomas’ high schools in Houston are serving as shelters for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey," according to a team spokesperson. "The Dolphins have worked closely with the shelters to understand their needs and collect supplies they have requested."

The Florida Panthers Foundation has also pledged a donation of $50,000 to support relief efforts. Walmart, an Oakview Alliance and Florida Panthers Partner, has agreed to match the donation in full. Fans interested in joining the effort can click HERE to donate. Walmart will continue to match all donations made through this link at a rate of $2 for every $1 up to $10 million nationwide.

In addition, the club will host, in conjunction with One Blood, a Blood Drive for Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief.

“Our thoughts are with the disaster victims who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey,” said Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell. “In a region that has experienced national disasters, we have seen the dire need and human suffering that accompany such events. Our goals with this donation and blood drive are to provide aid in numerous ways to those in need."

Panthers fans are invited to come out to the BB&T Center on Friday, Sept. 8 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. to donate blood victims of Hurricane Harvey. Every fan who donates will receive two tickets to a Panthers 2017 pre-season game. Fans can enter through Gate 5 to make their donation.

Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Winn-Dixie and Fresco y Más stores, is also helping to raise donations for the American Red Cross. From now through Sept. 6, customers can make a donation at any Winn-Dixie or Fresco y Más store, which will help the Red Cross provide food, shelter counseling and other much needed services to tens of thousands of people.

“Our thoughts are with those impacted by the devastating destruction of Hurricane Harvey," explained Anthony Hucker, president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers. "With our stores operating in the Southeast, we know many of our loyal customers and dedicated associates understand the difficult recovery process these families and businesses face. We want to help provide an easy way for them to give back to their neighbors through a reputable charitable organization that will help on the ground.”

The Dolphins will continue to collect supplies through Sept. 15. You can donate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside Hard Rock Stadium or until Sept. 3 at the Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern. A full list of supplies for donation can be found at Dolphins.com/HurricaneRelief. The items include the following:

• Baby diapers
• Baby formula
• Baby clothes
• Nonperishable food
• Bottled Water
• Sanitizer wipes
• Clothing
• School Supplies
• Batteries
• Candles
• Blankets
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Toiletries
• Socks
• New Underwear
• Hand Sanitizer
• Plates
• Coffee
• Creamer
• Sugar

Xavien Howard of the Miami Dolphins lends a helping hand at the Hurricane Harvey donation drive. Photo courtesy Miami Dolphins.