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- ABC News
- June 18, 2020
Why COVID is so devastating for the Caribbean
Bob and Melinda Blanchard have raised over $200,000 for Anguilla families.
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Their new donation goal would also allow them to travel throughout the island and distribute food to people without transportation or those living in more rural areas, Blanchard explained.
The Blanchards have taken out loans and emptied savings just to \"get through this challenging time\" and said that on a personal level, \"We just have to hope that the money holds out long enough to weather the storm.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/MelindaBobBlanchard_hpEmbed_9x11_384.jpg\")
The first $213,000 raised was donated from people who know and love Anguilla, but Melinda Blanchard said fundraising during a pandemic presents challenges they have never faced.
\"It's completely different than after a storm because with COVID-19, everyone is suffering around the world so people who may have donated in the past, are not able to help now,\" she explained.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/foodvouchergrocerystore_hpEmbed_17x12_384.jpg\")
\"It's hard to say what business will be like when we finally [re]open, but everyone is more than a little concerned,\" she said. \"We are completely reliant on tourists feeling comfortable getting on a plane and flying internationally. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone can predict when that will be.\"
The reason she and her husband \"moved to the island so long ago had much more to do with the wonderful people than the weather or beaches,\" she said.
\"With that in mind, we're hoping that the island's loyal following will come back sooner rather than later -- people who know Anguilla, love Anguilla. It's like no other Caribbean island,\" Blanchard said. \"Our beaches have been rated as some of the best in the world. We're known for our great selection of restaurants and more than anything, it's one of the safest places on earth.\"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Blanchards Restaurant (@blanchardsrestaurant) on Jun 5, 2020 at 7:13am PDT
The pair also turned the restaurant into a relief center after Hurricane Irma slammed the island in 2017.
\"The restaurant was destroyed so we knew we would be out of business for a long time,\" she said of the damage from the Category 5 storm. \"Once we patched the roof with tarps, we were able to arrange our once beautiful dining room by the type of supplies.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/AnguillaMeadsBay_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
While the Blanchards' foundation continues to works toward helping and healing, Melinda Blanchard explained that community is the key to their success.
\"If there's a lesson to be learned it's that helping other people is the best remedy for getting through a difficult time,\" she said. \"There's nothing at all we can do to bring people to the island, but by helping the community, we're keeping busy and doing something good at the same time. That's a whole lot better than complaining about the lack of business.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/posthurricaneDistribution_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
The silver lining as they continue to raise money for the island is that despite the challenges from the pandemic, Blanchard said they have started to receive attention for their fundraising efforts.
\"One wonderful surprise in the past week is that we're receiving donations from people who have never even heard of Anguilla,\" she said. \"They may have been on a cruise or visited another island, but either way, they love the Caribbean and want to help the region as a whole. We are so very grateful to everyone who is helping.\"
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