Hi my name is Latoya, I am born to Jamaican born parents, but I'm from London.

I am doing this fundraiser for my family's hometown of Carisbrook Jamaica in St Elizabeth. My father who was 1 of 17 was born here. I have so much family in this vicinity that I don't even know them all!

As the whole world is aware, hurricane melissa absolutely annihilated most of Western and Southern Jamaica. Roofs were ripped off, whole houses were washed/blown away from their foundations. Even family cemetery plots have been uprooted.

My worry is that small towns like mine will be overlooked when sending aid as it is not on the front line.

Carisbrook sits inland Jamaica in the hills of maggotty.

It sits 249ft above water at the entrance to the community, then it largely continues uphill.

The main road to get up there has been destroyed and there is currently catastrophic flooding on the lower roads.

It's a beautiful town, reminiscent of Old Jamaica. Shops are locally owned family businesses, and the Community remains unspoilt by large corporations.

Think Grandma's cottage style houses with beautiful flowers and fruit trees!

I plan to help mine and as many families as possible in Carisbrook.

Whether it be with repairs or providing needed items, I will do what I can, for the place that holds my heart.

Please do sponsor if you can, all amounts whether big or small will help towards the cause.

If you can't, this is fine and I ask that you share, with your family and friends, with your church/temple/mosque/synagogueswith your workplaces. I need your help to make this happen.

I am just one person who loves this part of Jamaica, I'm not an organisation, I'm just trying to get help for people that need and deserve it.

I am happy to share the outcomes of the campaign with any donors or answer any questions you might have, please send me a message x

*update * My family in carisbrook have made contact. Everyone is alive and unharmed, thank God!! As I imagined, my family home and many others are seriously damaged. Jamaicans are worldwide known for being the jovial, resilient and strong folk that they are. They are just grateful to see another day right now despite the hardships.

Latoya ❤️