Chickcharney Children in collaboration with HeadKnowles Foundation continued its hurricane relief efforts at its warehouse on the Airport Industrial Park Road yesterday. Volunteers Nicokya Lightbourne and Chavara Roker-Eneas help sort through the large amount of donated used shoes and clothing, canned foods, bottled water, cleaning tools and essential household items bound for Lowe Sound, North Andros and West End, Grand Bahama islands devastated by hurricane Matthew. (Photo: Ahvia J. Campbell)

Everyday people have again come together to bring relief to Family Islanders whose lives were put on pause due to a hurricane.

Last year, hundreds of people living on the south and central islands of The Bahamas were severely impacted by Hurricane Joaquin. A relief group called HeadKnowles organized relief through social media to help storm victims.

A group of Androsians has formed Chickcharney Children to bring relief to Androsians impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

Nikoya Lightbourne, the group's director, explained the importance of Chickcharney Children and its origin.

"We were raised there," Lightbourne said.

"We grew up there and our families are there.

"North Andros is devastated. Only 20 percent of Lowe Sounds' houses are still standing and half of them are damaged.

"Pretty much the communities that raised us are gone.

"As we know it, North Andros no longer exists.

"... Chickcharney Children started on Facebook as a way for all of us to speak to each other because I hadn't spoken to my father in 24 hours, because the cell tower got snapped into two.

"So you had all of these North Androsians all over the world who did not know how their family was doing."

Lightbourne said she assisted the HeadKnowles team with relief efforts in Long Island, Long Cay, Acklins, Crooked Island and Ragged Island after Joaquin last year.

Members of HeadKnowles, like Padrina Farquharson, are now assisting her.

Farquharson said as a Bahamian, it is near impossible to sit around and do nothing knowing Androsians are hurting.

"I'm a Bahamian and my brothers and sisters are hurting," she told The Nassau Guardian.

"That says something. People have been amazingly responsive considering the fact that New Providence was one of the worst hit.

"We've had huge donations but we are still waiting for some more.

"People have given money, time and so many other things."

Chickcharney Children is asking for donations of food and water.

It is also seeking to secure propane for community cooking centers, generators, tarps, sleeping bags, tents and cleaning products.

Lightbourne said she visited North Andros on Monday and the people were still in shock.

She urged more Bahamians to assist with the initiative.

"It's really devastating," she said.

"It's horrible. But we feel as if we don't do this, no one else will.

"We can't depend on the government to do it.

"We will do it ourselves."

Sky Bahamas CEO Captain Randy Butler is also helping rebuild North Andros and comfort its people.

In recent days, he has used his aircraft to transport supplies to the island, and his restaurant in Andros to supply dozens with food.

"I'm a fellow Androsian and when I heard about the disaster, my wife, my family and staff got together and funded a couple of flights," he said.

"We paid for food, water distribution.

"We have a restaurant and we did some cooking.

"We're not particularly doing the relief.

"We did those flights because there were no people doing it.

"People were hungry and needed food and water right away.

"I guess the government has protocols but those people could not wait.

"It was hard looking at those little children hungry.

"It was hard looking at people who just had no place to stay.

"Something had to be done."

People wishing to help may contact organizers through the HeadKnowles or Chickcharney Children Facebook pages.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian