There’s a Toronto Music Benefit to Help Islands Devastated by Hurricane Irma (and Maybe Maria)
Anyone who has spent time anywhere in the Leeward Islands has to be heartbroken about the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma. Much of Sint Maarten/St. Martin is just…gone. Barbuda is uninhabitable. The Virgin Islands, Anguilla and St. Barts will take years to recover. And to make matters worse, Hurricane Maria seems to be on track to hit these same islands again. All of these islands depend almost entirely on tourism and this upcoming season has pretty much been wiped out. I have some friends on those islands and they are desperate.
On Wednesday, September 27, Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre will host Caribbean Relief and Rhythms, a benefit that hopes to raise money for local charities in the islands. Funds will be disbursed through the Caribana Arts Group.
The night will feature DJ sets from legendary D.J.s D’Bandit, Dr. Jay and D.J. Starting from Scratch, as well as appearances from a number of musical guests, including multi Juno Award Winner Exco Levi, and Soca For Life creators Kerwin Du Bois and Lyrikal. Tickets are $20, and are available through ticketgateway.com.
If you’re planning to attend, there will be containers for donations of diapers, baby food, dried and canned milk, soap and toiletries for the people of Barbuda, who have been left with nothing. (Scroll down for the full list of essentials.)
If you can’t make it, donations can be sent to:
TD Bank
Transit # 1020
Account # 5526306
55 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5K 1A2
Cheques should be made payable to Caribana Arts Group
Donations of the following would be greatly appreciated.
Diapers, wipes
Baby food
Dried and canned milk
New baby clothes
Baby bottles
Soap
Disinfectant
Pillows
Sheets (all sizes)
Blankets
Toiletries
Sanitary pads
Underwear (children, males, females)
Large garbage bags
Medical supplies
First aid kits
Shaving kits (male and female)
New towels
Batteries
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Flashlights
