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Two Asbury Park businesses are holding disaster relief drives to support Haiti following last week’s devastation from Hurricane Matthew.

“The total impact of last week’s Hurricane Matthew is still being measured, but the current death toll is 191,” city officials said in a written statement. “Many have been displaced, and the hurricane has led to [possible] cholera outbreaks.”

“Before the hurricane, we had serious problems of access to health, water and sanitation, and cases of cholera. So, when the water supply is interrupted, cholera will increase,” Dr. Jean Luc Poncelet, a representative in Haiti for the United Nations’ Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO), said in a statement Thursday to ABC News.

Boardwalk restaurant Langosta Lounge and the local Good News Community Network have announced relief efforts to help the Caribbean nation.

“Many in our Asbury Park family have direct ties to Haiti, and Asbury as a whole feels for Haiti in the aftermath of this tragedy,” Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said. “If you’re able, please send whatever aid you can to help out those who are so desperately in need.”

Good News, run under the multi-lingual Asbury Avenue-based radio station WYGG Good News Radio 88.1 FM, is collecting monetary donations and will help organize construction materials to Haiti but no clothing, goods, or other donations can be accepted at this time, Clayton said. Cash donations can be brought or mailed to Good News office at 414 Asbury Avenue.

“They just don’t have the resources to collect and sort clothing and other goods,” Clayton said.

On Tuesday, Langosta Lounge, located at 1000 Ocean Ave, will host Come Together for Haiti, in partnership with Waves for Water and the local Haitian community.

Held from 5:30 to 830 p.m., the benefit features a selection of free tapas, cash bar and live entertainment. While the event is free to attend, it is suggested each guest donates $20 in support of the non-profit Waves for Water Hurricane Matthew Relief Initiative, organizers said.

“We hold much admiration for Waves for Water, not only for their work abroad, but for their work in our community following hurricane Sandy,” restaurateur Marilyn Schlossbach said. “Understanding how devastating a natural disaster is to a community, we are honored to support Waves for Water’s initiatives on-the-ground efforts in Haiti.”

“Just over a week ago, Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti near the town of Les Anglais, on the island nation’s southwest coast, with winds of 145 miles per hour,” organizers said. “It became the first Category 4 storm to strike Haiti since 1964. With damage to the water and sanitation infrastructure, the risk of epidemics is very real.”

Waves for Water mission to bring clean drinking water to every person in need includes teaching communities across the globe how to use portable water filters.

In Haiti, the organization will focus on providing access to clean drinking water to the hardest hit areas as well as placing their attention on preventing a potentially devastating Cholera outbreak in the weeks to come, Langosta organizers said.

In addition, the Waves for Water will leverage some of its US based partners and relationships to coordinate other urgently needed supplies and services [food, medical, etc].

[Feature photo courtesy of Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins]

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