Hi Everyone,
A few years ago, my husband Chris, left Jamaica and moved here to build a life with me. His hometown—Mt Edgecombe in Runaway Bay Jamaica—welcomed me with open arms. It quickly became more than just a community, it became family.
Today, we’re reaching out with heavy hearts and hopeful spirits. Hurricane Melissa tore through Mt Edgecombe, leaving behind devastation that’s hard to put into words. Chris’s childhood home, along with the homes of his family, friends, and neighbors—places filled with music, laughter, and love—were severely damaged. Roofs were ripped away, walls collapsed, trees crashed into houses, and cherished belongings were lost.
For days, we had no contact with his family—just silence and worry. Thankfully, Chris’s brother in Kingston was able to travel to Mt Edgecombe and check on them in person. He brought back the news we were praying for: everyone there is safe.
But the storm’s reach didn’t stop there. Chris’s father and aunts live in St Elizabeth parish, where Hurricane Melissa first made landfall. We still haven’t been able to reach them. With communication lines across Jamaica down, we’re holding onto hope and praying for their safety. Your support will also help us care for them when we do reconnect.
One of Chris’s closest friends—someone who’s always been there for him—lives further up in the hills and still hasn’t been heard from. We’re deeply concerned and committed to helping him rebuild too.
In Jamaica, when times are tough and you ask someone how they’re doing, the answer is often simple and profound: “We have life.” Right now, that phrase means everything. They may have lost homes, belongings, and normalcy—but they have life. And that’s where hope begins.
While we are incredibly grateful for all of the relief efforts that are underway for the country, much of the aid is focused in specific areas right now and then on main roads and central areas. Communities like Mt Edgecombe—smaller, off-the-path communities are often overlooked and we know we can do more.
We’re asking for help—not just to rebuild homes, but to restore the hope that gives our loved ones the strength to face each day, even when the road ahead feels uncertain.
Your support will go directly to:
- Rebuilding and fixing family homes destroyed by the hurricane
- Fixing friends and neighborhood homes in his community
- We’re wanting to send barrels of food—not just for our family, but for the Mt Edgecombe community. Shipping is costly, but essential. Grocery shelves were emptied before the hurricane, and with the damage, there’s no telling when they’ll be restocked.
- Sending a barrel of essentials like toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, toilet paper, feminine products etc.
- We will try to also send a barrel of basic clothes like t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, underwear for both kids and adults.
We know our goal is big—but so is the love behind it. Every contribution means the world to us, and with Chris on the ground helping, we’ll be sharing updates so you can see the impact of your support firsthand. From every barrel packed to every home repaired or rebuilt, we want you to feel the gratitude in every step of this journey.
Every donation—big or small—every share, every kind word matters and will help to heal and rebuild!
If you have a skill, service, or area of expertise that could support this effort, we’d love to hear from you. Every bit of help makes a difference.