The Government of Jamaica through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) would like to thank the Jamaican people for the tremendous support they have given to our Haitian brothers and sisters over the past week. In an effort to centralize the Jamaican Aid, the Office of the Prime
Minister has mandated the ODPEM Office of Disaster  Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to coordinate the national relief process.

In this regard, the ODPEM is kindly asking that all donations in kind be brought to the offices of the ODPEM at 2-4 Haining Road, Kingston 5 on Saturday, January 16, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday January 17, 2010, from 9:00a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Other collection times will be established next week.

ODPEM staff members along with volunteers will be on hand to receive these donations and will sort and pack the items that have been contributed to the relief initiative. The public is being urged to sort, package and label their donations before it is dropped off at our offices.

Persons who reside outside of the Kingston and St. Andrew Metropolitan area and wish to make donations can contact our Parish Disaster Coordinators (PDC). Please see list attached.

In addition, cash donations can be made to any branch at the National Commercial Bank (NCB) account number- 21-2387304.
“Help Haiti” is being coordinated by the ODPEM as directed by the Office of the Prime Minister as a response to the devastating effect of the earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.

Contact: Kimberley Weller, Information Officer, KWeller@odpem.org.jm