A Chattanooga businessman is joining relief efforts in the Bahamas after a Category 5 hurricane tore across the islands this week, leveling thousands of homes and killing at least five.
Lou Lentine, Viatek Consumer Products founder and CEO, has created a GoFundMe page (For the Love of Abaco - Hurricane Relief) with a small group of U.S. residents who own homes on the islands, including Signal Mountain businessman Tom Poteet.
"Just like if something happened here in Chattanooga, I have a good connection to the area and the people I know there," he said. "We believe that we can help, and I have been fortunate enough to have the means to help."
Lentine used his contacts on the island to coordinate relief efforts. He's been in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities, as well.
The GoFundMe raised more than $65,000 in one day, including donations from organizers and local companies like the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Viatek Consumer Products Group President Lou Lentine poses in the Viatek office on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn.The group is currently working with advisers to establish a 501(c)(3). They chose GoFundMe because it doesn't take fees for disaster fundraisers. Organizers will not take a cut of the funds, they said.
The organizers have secured four airplanes and three boats to use but still need another plane to haul additional supplies.
So far, they've purchased about $30,000 in supplies but have run out of room on the planes.
"It was my largest Amazon order I've ever made," Lentine said. "I promise you."
The first shipment will be sent Wednesday. Lentine expects to fly down Thursday. Once there, the crew will oversee operations from the boats since much of the islands are inhabitable.
The team will send 20,000-50,000 emergency meals for victims, baby food, tarps, duct tape, nails, batteries, solar powered chargers, flashlights and more.
Lentine grew up visiting the Abaco Islands, and about two-and-a-half years ago, he bought a house there.
It was a fixer-upper, he said. His family spent about a year renovating it, shipping supplies from a local Home Depot.
Ultimately, it became a place for his family to relax and spend quality time together. Sometimes, his three sons would bring friends. There was intentionally no television and there was little cellphone service available. On Tuesday, Lentine - who also owns Echelon smart connect bikes - described the islands as laid back. It's a boaters community, he said, where visitors rent boats to travel between islands and snorkel, eat, drink and do family activities.
"I work really hard all hours of the day, so when you need a break, it's a good place to go," he said. "Everyone is really friendly; it's island time. It's just a really good place."
But he's unsure if the home survived the storm; aerial footage shows catastrophic damage.
Now, as the islands work to assess the damage, Lentine is hoping to give back to the community.
The Better Business Bureau has commended Lentine for the effort but is also alerting the public to be aware of possible scams on crowdfunding sites after major disasters.
"None of that is to say that this is a bad thing to do," said Jim Winsett, president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga. "[Lentine's] targeting this area where his home was. He is specifically trying to help the area. That's all a noble thing. At the BBB, we do encourage people to be benevolent."
However, the organization has sent out tips nationwide in the wake of the disaster to warn people of possible scams. They recommend potential donors do the following:
- Verify the trustworthiness of soliciting relief organizations on give.org.
- See if the charity has an on-the-ground-presence in the impacted area.
- Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for others.
- Be cautious about giving gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations as they may not be the most efficient way to help those in need.
- Understand crowdfunding.
The organization recommends donors support experienced disaster relief organizations and be wary of pop-up organizations with little information or no on-the-ground presence in the area.
"Donors should watch out for newly created organizations that emerge that are either inexperienced in addressing disasters or may be seeking to deceive donors at a vulnerable time," according to a statement from Art Taylor, president and CEO of BBB's give.org.
Contact Mark Pace with questions, comments, concerns or story tips at mpace@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659. Follow him on Twitter @themarkpace and on Facebook at ChattanoogaOutdoorsTFP.