My name is Natasha Barnes and I am raising money for my community who has been devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

For generations, my family has lived and thrived in the tiny farm community of Mayfield in Manchester, Jamaica. Manchester is located on the western part of the island, the area most impacted by Melissa.

It is remarkable that I didn't lose a single member of my family in the storm. A true miracle and a testament of God’s mercy. However, while Jamaica’s government prioritizes aid to the more heavily populated cities, small rural communities, like mine, are in dire need of food and building supplies to create temporary shelter from the elements.

I am asking for any donations you can give, no matter how small, to help my community get the food and building supplies they need.

All funds will go toward purchasing the following:

-Non-perishable food items

-Building supplies (blocks, cement, temporary roofing)

-Hygiene supplies

-Baby items (formula, clothes, diapers)

-Bottled water

Approximately 600 people currently live in Mayfield.

Majority of these people are left without homes, their farms are destroyed and food supply runs lower everyday.

Meet some of the people your donations will be helping:

My sister Arielle, her husband Romaine, and their daughter, Alexia.

My cousin Lushano, his wife Cherise, and their daughter, Summer.

My grandfather, Sam.

My mother, Hilary.

My little cousin Raj, and my nephew, Jayden.

My auntie, Jazmine.

From right to left: My sister, my cousin Chrissie, me, my cousin Alix, and my nephew Jayden.

Aerial view of nearby town, Black River, before Melissa.

Aerial view of Black River after Melissa.

We are heartbroken by the extraordinary destruction of our island nation, but with your help, we can keep my humble community fed and sheltered until adequate aid arrives.

Thank you

God bless you!