The Premier Foundation is launching a donation drive throughout the Upstate of South Carolina to provide critical assistance to those left homeless by Hurricane Dorian. The drive, which runs from Saturday, October 19, through Wednesday, October 30, will culminate with supplies being loaded and transported by Jackson Marketing to Opa-locka, Florida, where they will be flown by D&S Aviation to evacuation centers and mission programs in Nassau, Bahamas.
This is the first supply shipment organized by the Premier Foundation that is supported by local businesses and the second shipment since the storm. Dick Brooks Honda in Greer, 13 Stripes Brewery in Taylors, Fourth Presbyterian Church in Greenville and Jackson in Simpsonville will serve as collection centers. The shipment will provide crucial supplies for displaced residents of Abaco and Grand Bahama Island who suffered devastating losses and who continue to be homeless nearly two months after the catastrophic storm.
“The Premier Foundation has been working in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas with children’s homes, elder care organizations, homeless ministries and many others for nearly a decade, and we felt it was imperative that we become a ‘boots-on-the-ground’ example for relief and recovery,” said Gene Krcelic, Premier Foundation president. “The road to recovery will take years, and it is vital we continue to walk beside our brothers and sisters in their time of distress,” he added.
“As a result of our extensive events and motorsports work, we have a strong warehousing, transportation and logistics infrastructure in place,” said Jackson president and CEO, Darrell Jackson. “We are honored to have the opportunity to use our skill sets to help those who are in such desperate need,” he continued. Supplies will be packed and loaded for transportation at Jackson on Thursday, October 31. A Jackson tractor-trailer truck will then transport the items to Florida on Friday, November 1.
The full list of donation locations and hours, as well as needed relief items, can be found below. Financial contributions can be made here.
Greenville Area Collection Sites and Donation Hours:
- Fourth Presbyterian Church, 703 E. Washington St., Greenville, SC 29601
- Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Friday 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m.–Noon
- Dick Brooks Honda, 14100 E. Wade Hampton Blvd., Greer, SC 29651
- Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m
- Jackson Marketing, 1068 Holland Rd., Simpsonville, SC 29681
- Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- 13 Stripes Brewery, 250 Mill St., Taylors, SC 29687
- Monday–Friday 2:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.; Sunday Noon–8:00 p.m.