I'm fundraising for my beloved friends Andrew Penrose & Charm Campbell-Penrose and their family in St. James Parish, Jamaica.

When Hurricane Melissa hit, families across the island were left without power, shelter, or resources. While Andrew, Charm, and their son escaped the worst of the damage, the rest of their family in St. James Parish was not so fortunate. Charm's father, siblings, and nieces & nephews lost everything on October 28th. Their family farm – where they grew bananas, sugarcane, breadfruit, yam, and other produce – and their two homes were completely destroyed, along with all of their furniture, clothing, and bedding.

I'm asking for your help in assisting the family – including their four school-aged children – in getting a roof back over their heads and putting their lives back together. They are in urgent need of mattresses, linens, and basic food items. Every penny of your donation will go directly to the family to help them meet their essential needs and work towards rebuilding their homes.

From Charm: "The children enjoyed playing and reaping the fruits off the land from where they once called home. They would be elated to be able to do so once more. My father is a farmer. He is solely dependent on crops to sell now there is nothing left as the crops he cultivates are destroyed. There will be no income forthcoming. He loves his farming which is the only thing he does, hence it would be his pleasure to be able to continue his farming and being in his late seventies, farming is something folks at his age enjoy doing as it also keeps him active and healthy. At the present moment my father is not so well as there is pain in his knee which retards his movement greatly."

Andrew works as a chef right down the street from where my family runs our glassblowing studio. The friendship between our families goes back years – I've known him and Charm since I was barely a teenager – and the love I have for them doesn't fit within a word count limit. The connection between Jamaica and Cape Cod goes back decades. I cannot imagine my home without the joy, friendship, and vibrant culture of the men and women I have come to know over the years. I want my friends and their loved ones to be safe. I hope you will help me in that.