South Carolina Abaco Relief started with a need, a connection and a plane.
The need after hurricane Dorian was immediate. After years spent vacationing in the Bahamas, making local friends and finding a home away from home, we had to do something to help. We filled our small plane with water and basic supplies and lifted off for our very familiar Abaco.
Once Abaco came into view from the air, it was obvious there was not much familiar here. The grateful faces of our local friends was the only familiar thing left. Our supplies were welcome, but there was not nearly enough for everyone. What began as a supply run now became an evacuation flight.
Word quickly spread among friends of both the need and the effort. As word grew, more people responded. Others began to contribute supplies. Even others began to volunteer planes and time. More supplies came in, more people flew out.
More and more people became involved and now we are working with warehouses, cooperating with relief agencies, building partnerships and more. We continue to make connections, expand the effort and participate in the recovery efforts. We are both excited and overwhelmed at the tremendous response. We hope to have the opportunity to partner with you to bring hope to the people of Abaco.
Chapin, SC
Brandon is a small business owner who lives in Chapin. He is a private pilot who has been flying to the Bahamas for several years. After Hurricane Dorian passed Grand Bahama , Brandon loaded his plane with supplies to assist his friends in Abaco. The initial trip turned into 7 days of flying relief supplies into the devastated areas and people out. To date he has flown 48 people out of the affected areas and continues to coordinate relief supplies into the Bahamas.
Murrells Inlet, SC
Charleston, SC
Lexington, SC
Craig was born and raised on St. Helena Island (aka Frogmore), close to Beaufort, SC. A love of the water and the outdoors was ingrained early in childhood and is now a way of life. After some trips to the Abacos with friends, Craig felt an attachment to the environment, people, and culture which has driven his desire to help the victims of Hurricane Dorian in any way possible.
In the infancy of SC Abaco Relief, the goal was to help people with supplies and support and that vision has not changed. Craig is primarily responsible for logistics and financial aspects of the organization while continuing to support the other team members where needed. One of his favorite sayings is “the world is changed by your example, not by your opinion” and helping those in great need is a way to put that saying into action.