New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today launched a food and supplies drive to assist families in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Ivan.

“I am appealing to New Yorkers to help those left homeless, injured and without food or water in this time of tragedy,” Thompson said. “Hurricane Ivan has devastated Grenada and Jamaica and severely affected the rest of the Caribbean. There is an urgent need for food and water and so we must do everything possible to provide assistance.”

Desperately needed are tents, cots, food, water, roofing materials, medical supplies and equipment.

Dozens of people in Grenada, Barbados and other islands in the Caribbean were reported killed by Hurricane Ivan and 90 percent of the homes in Grenada were damaged. The U.S. has declared Grenada a disaster area.

Thompson is holding the drive in coordination with the Consulate General of Grenada.

The drive will run until September 22. People can send or bring donations – between the weekday hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.- to the Office of the New York City Comptroller, 1 Centre Street, Room 1330, New York, N.Y., 10007.

For more information, contact Arelis Echevarria-Perez or Rafael Escano at (212) 669-3089 with the Comptroller’s Office of Community Relations.

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