Help My Friend in Jamaica Affected By Hurricane

To All My Family & Friends,

As you all know, I lived in Jamaica for two years prior to moving here to Phoenix. Before I made the move to Jamaica, I traveled there 5 times on vacation. While on one of those vacations, I met Fay. Fay owns an arts & crafts shop, selling handmade souvenirs, specializing in her crocheted bags & hats and beaded jewelry.

Fay opened her crafts shop in November of 1987. I met Fay in 1994...30 years ago!

On July 3, 2024 Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica at a strength of category 4, before it eventually moved on to Houston.

Fay's shop is across the road from the ocean. Her shop, the small home behind the shop, her car, and the land all sustained significant damage.

Fay's shop & home are still standing, but the roofs, floors & windows are all damaged by the wind, rain & subsequent flooding. Very large trees on her property were uprooted and ended up falling on the electrical wires, breaking the wires & pulling down the electrical poles. The town expects landowners to pay for their own electrical polls & wires.

Fay does not have property or auto insurance, because insurance is something that most Jamaican residents can not afford.

Right now Fay has no electricity and her water heater was also damaged. Her car is not running.

In the larger picture, due to the damage to the island of Jamaica as a whole, there are almost no tourists visiting at this time.

Fay's only source of income is selling her crafts to tourists.

All donations made to this GoFundMe account will be used for repairs to the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl.

I know some of you are extra cautious, due to online scams, as you should be! Most of you have my phone no. and/or my email address, so please contact me with any of your questions or concerns. You can also click on "Contact" below under "Organizer".

Thank you for taking the time to read this story.

I really appreciate any help you are able to give and no amount is too small. It all adds up.

Sincerely,

Cathy Whitmore

Phoenix, AZ