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Jupiter friends headed to the Bahamas with supplies after hurricane

Posted at 11:49 AM, Oct 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-09 18:43:41-04

UPDATE: The group is looking for more donations to send to the Bahamas. You can drop off items at the following locations: Stuart Jet Center, 2501 SE Aviation Way, Stuart - Jupiter Tequesta AC, 582 N US Hwy 1, Tequesta - X-Generation Custom Rods, 410 N Dixie Highway, Lantana - and Broward Design Center Warehouse, 795 East Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale.

They are looking for items such as: canned food, baby food, juice boxes, water, medical supplies (gauze, bandages, antiseptic), bug spray, citronella candles, clothing and shoes for adults and children, diapers, baby wipes, hygiene items, feminine products, tool (tarps, nails, duct tape, hammers, rope, batteries, flashlights, generators, power cords, and boxes/containers to consolidate items).

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ORIGINAL STORY:
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Helping after the hurricane. People from across Palm Beach County came together to help with relief efforts in the Bahamas after it was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew.

“We all come together as a family,” said Leah Lynch, of Jupiter.

Saturday morning, six friends from Jupiter topped a boat with supplies for Bahamians devastated by Hurricane Matthew. They’re grateful this area avoided the eye of the storm.

“The people there we love, they're family to us,” said Leah. This hits us very hard, very personal.

They tried reaching friends on the island. It’s their second home. “We have no idea, we tried contacting them through Facebook, Instagram, their phones,” said Leah. “We can't get a hold of them.”

So Leah and her husband, John, had an idea: to gather essentials for those in need.

A single post on Facebook led to 10,000 pounds of donations from Wellington to Stuart. Everything from food, water, diapers, generators, tools, clothes, dog food and more.

“Within a couple hours, everybody donated all this stuff,” said Jake Smith, the captain. “It was really cool. We live in an awesome place.”

The group plans to deliver the items to a pastor in the Bahamas who will distribute them to those in need.

They plan to return Saturday night.