<div>Aloha, my name is Marsha Wald. I was born and raised in Jamaica. I am from a small town called Lucea in the Parish of Hanover. Hanover is considered the country side. It's between Montego Bay and Negril. I moved to America in 2003, and 20 years later, I am an American Citizen. I currently live in Hawaii. 
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<div>The reason I created this account is because I am hearing from members in my family and community that our little Parish Lucea, Hanover seems to be forgotten. The aid that you see on Social Media is not reaching our town and community. Luckily there is a river nearby and people can get water, there is still no electricity and most people are without a home. The few leaders in the community are using what resources they have to help. Some places are still unreachable.  When you donate it goes straight towards my family and shared in the community. We already sent off food supplies and intend to send more. My goal is to also help my family and members in the community to rebuild homes that are hurricane and earthquake proof.  I will be calling on friends in my community who are architects to design such homes. We already know if the home has concrete walls and concrete roof they survived also zinc roofs that are hurricane proof. We also need to ensure that people are building on land that is not close to rivers and susceptible to mud slides. Theres  a lot to be done and unified we can. 
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<div>I never thought I would open a GoFundMe account or ask for help. But when I see that most of the help is going towards the places closer to the city of Kingston and my little town and community seems to be forgotten. I know I have to put my pride aside and ask for help. I always felt that I could overcome anything by myself and with the help of my husband. But I realize the work ahead is bigger than us. <strong>We are not just helping my family; we are helping a community and a nation.</strong>
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<div>In 1988, I experienced the worst hurricane in Jamaica's history at that time. It was a Category 3 hurricane and one of the most devastating in Jamaica's history. We lost the roof of our house. My dad, who was a firefighter at that time, was not at home to protect me, my mother, my brother, and my sister. I remember thinking it was going to be a cozy night in bed, but when my mom ran into the room and told us to get under the bed just in time before the roof lifted, that's when I knew it was serious. Thankfully, it flew off instead of crashing down on us. We ran out of the house in the wind and rain, hanging on to our mother and each other in Category 3 hurricane winds, strong enough to blow us away if we were not clinging to our mother. I remember it was dark, and we could not see in front of us but only walked by memory to the only place we hoped was still standing. It was an unfinished bar that had concrete walls and roof nearby (our house was concrete but did not have concrete roof). We made our way miraculously to it. That bar was the safe haven everyone in my neighborhood ran to.
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<div>Years later, on 8/8/2023, in Hawaii on the Island of Maui, my husband and I made our escape from our house during the raging historic Lahaina fire. My heart is still not healed from the Lahaina Fire, but remembering that I survived Hurricane Gilbert in Jamaica somehow gave me a sense of comfort that I went through something tragic before; therefore, I can overcome this.
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<div>But when category 5 Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica on 10/28/2025, and it took my brother's house, and nearly took my parents house but by the grace of God, my parents' home still had the roof but experienced flooding and leaking. I was in shock but grateful. The water came into the house through the boards and parts of the roof. I waited days to hear if my parents were alive because that was all I cared about. When I finally heard from them, I cried. I cried all the tears I held back since the Lahaina Fire and for the devastation of my homeland.
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<div>As I type this on 11/13/2025, I am crying. I have not been able to speak on my social media platforms because I cannot find the words to express how I feel.
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<div>Living in Hawaii, I learned about connecting with the land (Aina), and even though I live miles away, I can feel the sorrow that my entire Jamaican family (Ohana) is feeling and the tears of the land.
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<div>My deepest desire is to help as many people as possible, including my family, with rebuilding their homes with new structures that can withstand hurricane winds and earthquakes. To provide resources for food because all the farms and crops have been damaged, and it will be a long road ahead.
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<div>So far with the help of family members we have packed and shipped our first Barrel to my family in Jamaica. I would like to send more to be distributed to others in the community. I plan to also visit when it's safe to do so and bring supplies as well as purchase building materials for family members and people in our community. I will also meet with community leaders to see how best I can continue to help to ensure that all resources are given to the people in need.
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<div><strong>Whatever is given will only be put towards helping my family, neighbors, and community in Esher, Lucea, Hanover.</strong> My parents' home is one of the few homes with a roof in my neighborhood. They have opened their home to my brother and his new wife and to anyone else that's in need.
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<div>I thank you in advance for whatever you give and know that we have to keep <strong>Hope</strong>, <strong>Faith, and Love </strong>at the forefront of our hearts. I will speak when I can, but for now, my voice are these words from <strong>my heart to yours</strong>. J<strong>amaica will overcome and rise!</strong> <strong>Everything Irie.</strong>
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<div><strong>Deepest Mahalo (thank you).</strong>
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