It has been raining for two months in Puerto Plata. Locals say they have never seen anything as severe before. Just before Christmas 2024 the rivers in Puerto Plata flooded leaving so many areas under water. Homes were lost, people without food or drinking water, beds and furniture destroyed.

Dominican Starfish Foundation has local and foreign workers on the ground delivering food so that people could have something to eat for Christmas.

At the Youth Upliftment School which we support, the kitchen was opened for holidays and children were able to come in for a hot meal.

olunteers trudged through mud and deep water Behind the Wall to take hot food to families who didn't have a way to cook. (They often cook on a little charcoal fire outside but the pouring rain did not allow).

Kate has made us aware of 14 families there who have no beds at all. They sleep on the floor. But with their homes flooded they have no where to sleep. It's a terrible crisis. We need mattresses and cinderblocks to put the mattresses on.

The aftermath has left hundreds of families without beds, furniture, food and roofs over their heads. The mantra of Dominican Starfish Foundation is "Make a Difference to that one". We know that the need is way beyond what we can help with but we can make a difference to one child, one family, one community at a time.

In addition to furnishings, food and home repairs we also need mosquito nets. Tarps are needed for temporary roof repairs.

If you can help, please open your hearts and your wallet. Your donations qualify for charitable tax receipts in Canada and the USA.