Although their stories have faded from headlines, HeadKnowles organizers Lia Head and Gina Knowles are urging citizens to remember the thousands of people still "suffering" more than two months after Hurricane Joaquin pummeled the central and southern Bahamas. An estimated 5,000 people were impacted by the Category 4 storm, which unleashed fury on the islands in early October, causing over $100 million in damage, according to officials.

In a recent interview with The Nassau Guardian, the organizers spoke at length about the ongoing relief efforts, from challenges with their partnership with the public sector, to the families that remain a long way away from full restoration.

HeadKnowles engaged in a public/private partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and has spearheaded relief efforts. Knowles said the arrangement came about following HeadKnowles' success with relief efforts in the immediate aftermath of Joaquin. However, the organizers claimed that while the partnership has helped the government excel, it has somewhat slowed down their pace, largely due to transportation and distribution challenges.

As it relates to impacted residents, Knowles said while many have been sheltered, multiple families have been sharing cramped accommodations.

"When I hear on the radio, a report that 'All things are well down in the south, everyone is now comfortable and they have temporary homes', I'm like, 'Hold on, you sent down [a few] trailers to each island and suddenly everyone has a temporary home?'" she said. "If anything, they should say residents are still suffering."

Head said that sort of information does a disservice to the thousands of people still hurting. HeadKnowles has managed to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and even more in relief supplies and building materials. Organizers credited social media, which has enabled them to photograph and document what the organization has done with donations in an open and transparent way in real time.

On its Facebook page, "HeadKnowles Limited", a break down of the residents who have received donations and supplies is available. Head commended private citizens for their support, but encouraged Bahamians to continue to give and do more, insisting the process of repairing and rebuilding has only just begun.

The organization recently received a donation of 80 packages from the International Orthodox Christian Charities. The "bucket donations", included baby kits, blankets and school kits, that were distributed across the impacted islands last week. HeadKnowles also recently purchased four washing machines and set up a laundromat on Long Island. The organizers said because of limited resources, this could not be done for the other islands.

Knowles pointed out that while containers of food continue to be sent over, some residents complained of a shortage of food. Many of the grocery stores on the impacted islands lost entire stocks and have yet to reopen. In a coordinated effort with partners such as Butler's Home Essentials and other local suppliers, Knowles said the group was able to renovate, stock and reopen a store in Long Island. Knowles said this was the first of many more stores to be assisted. Volunteers Head and Knowles said private citizens answered the call for help and stepped forward early on.

The private sector mobilized immediately following the storm, establishing transport networks and coordinating donations.

"People who know us are like us," Head said. "Our friends are like us and will just drop everything and do it. "We have had donations from people, cash, which we keep asking for." Knowles said the organization recently began providing a contribution to two women, who despite being left with nothing after the storm, volunteered with relief efforts.

"We started providing a donation to a couple of the girls, one in Long Island, one here in Nassau, because they both have nothing," she said. Head added, "It's now the third month and they can't do everything for free. They have no job to go to because their job is still underwater, and they have no house. They have been living with 13 other people in a home."

HeadKnowles' network of volunteers and staff is in the hundreds.

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