Who I Am & Why I’m Raising Funds
My name is Joanna Pedersen, and together with my husband Mark, we lead the Equally Yoked Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity based in the Kansas City Metro area.
We are a family-led ministry with deep Jamaican heritage and a calling to serve families through faith, unity, and community restoration. Our foundation has always been about shining light where it’s needed most... and now, our hearts are turned toward Jamaica after the recent hurricanes that left families devastated.
We are raising funds to support families and communities in Jamaica who have lost homes, access to food and clean water, and basic living essentials due to the storm.
We will be working directly with trusted local churches, pastors, and family connections on the island to ensure all funds are used honestly and efficiently.
Every dollar raised will be used exactly as stated in this campaign... to bring real help, real supplies, and real hope to Jamaica. I will personally ensure that funds are spent with full transparency and accountability.
Light for Jamaica | Equally Yoked Foundation
Families in Jamaica Need Us — Right Now
When the hurricanes hit Jamaica, they didn’t just flood streets or damage houses… they washed away years of hard work, small dreams, and everyday peace.
Today, families are sleeping under broken roofs. Children are trying to study by flashlight. Mothers are wondering where their next meal will come from.
We believe this is the moment to show up... not just with words, but with love in action.
Why We’re Raising This Fund
We’re the Equally Yoked Foundation... a faith-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a heart for unity, hope, and restoration.
So this is where it begins ... with faith, compassion, and your help.
Our Deep Jamaican Roots
Jamaica isn’t just a place on a map to us... it’s part of our family story.
Our roots trace back to the island, and the people, culture, and faith of Jamaica are woven into who we are. That’s why this relief effort is not only personal we are passionate about providing assistance in any way we can. When Jamaica hurts, we feel it too.
Through this campaign, we’re simply giving back to the land and people who helped shape our family’s story... carrying light, love, and restoration back home.
What This Fund Will Do
We’re not a large organization. We don’t have red tape or big offices.
We have willing hearts, trusted connections, and a desire to serve.
Every dollar raised here will go toward the first wave of support for hurricane-impacted families in Jamaica:
This will include:
Essential care packages - food, clean water, and hygiene supplies
Family recovery support - bedding, clothing, and school materials
Rebuilding resources - tarps, tools, and materials for home repair
Church partnerships - helping local ministries distribute aid safely and directly
We’re not there yet... but your giving makes it possible to begin. This fund is the bridge between heartbreak and hope.
What Your Gift Means
$10 can provide clean water.
$25 can help feed a family.
$50 can buy materials to rebuild a roof.
$100 can restock a local shelter or church distribution site.
Every gift matters. Every gift multiplies when it’s given with love.
We may not be able to fix everything... but together, we can remind Jamaica that God sees them, and He’s still faithful.
Our Promise to You
We know trust matters. That’s why we promise:
We are a verified 501(c)(3) public charity.
Every dollar marked “Jamaica Relief” will go directly toward recovery efforts.
No salaries or administrative costs are taken from this fund.
We’ll share updates, photos, and stories as relief efforts unfold.
We want you to see the light your giving brings.
How You Can Help
Give what you can... even a small gift becomes a miracle in God’s hands.
Share this link... your post could reach the person who helps rebuild a village.
Pray for Jamaica... prayer still changes everything.
Ways to Give
You can give directly through GoFundMe,
or through Cash App: $WeAreEquallyYoked (please mark “Jamaica Relief”)
(We’ll update this page once Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle options are verified.)
Why “Light for Jamaica
Because we believe light always finds a way through the darkness.
Because we believe love still rebuilds.
Because we believe God hasn’t forgotten Jamaica... and neither will we.
This isn’t about charity. It’s about compassion.
It’s about being the light that reminds families they’re not alone.
Final Word
“The Lord will restore what was lost… and make it overflow again."
Joel 2:25
We’re believing that through this effort, God will restore what’s been broken — one family, one prayer, one act of love at a time.
Please give today, and help us bring light, hope, and healing to Jamaica.
Why “Light for Jamaica”
Because we believe light always finds a way through darkness. The people of Jamaica carry a light that storms can’t erase... faith, strength, and joy that still shines. Through this campaign, we’re helping that light rise again. Together, we can bring hope where it’s needed most and remind every family that God has not forgotten them.
Organizer
Equally Yoked Foundation
Beneficiary