Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, has brought unimaginable devastation to Burnt Ground District in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica — the place our family calls home. Roofs have been ripped away, trees uprooted, and families left without food, clean water, or electricity. My parents, loved ones, friends, and neighbors are now facing the hardest days of their lives as they try to rebuild from the ground up.

We’re raising funds to provide essential supplies directly to those in Burnt Ground and the surrounding areas, including:

Food and clean drinking water

Personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, feminine products, etc.)

General medical and first aid supplies

Flashlights, batteries, and solar lighting

Solar panels for basic power

Ropes, tarps, and building materials for temporary shelter

Our family will be traveling to Jamaica in February to personally deliver these supplies and ensure they reach the families who need them. This is a grassroots, family-led effort — no big organizations, just us and our trusted community members on the ground who know exactly where help is needed. We will be filling barrels full of food and other essential and shipping them down to Jamaica as soon as we can.

While we’re there, we also plan to partner with local food kitchens to help cook and distribute hot meals to those who have lost everything. After meeting the immediate needs for food, hygiene, and safety, our next goal is to help rebuild homes and restore a sense of normalcy for the people of Burnt Ground and nearby communities.

Every dollar will go directly toward helping our family, friends, and neighbors recover and rebuild. Funds will be used to purchase supplies locally when possible, supporting both relief and the local economy.

Please consider donating, sharing, or spreading the word. With your help, we can bring hope, light, and strength back to Burnt Ground, Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth.

From Our Family to Yours:

This mission comes straight from the heart. Our family in Minnesota is doing everything we can to help our family, friends, and neighbors in Burnt Ground recover after this tragedy. We’ve laughed, celebrated, and shared life with these same people — and now, they need us more than ever.

Thank you for standing with us and for believing in the strength and resilience of Jamaica. ❤️

About the Organizer:

This fundraiser is organized by the Gayle family in Minnesota. Philip who was born and raised in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica wants to help his parents, extended family, friends, and neighbors who were directly affected by Hurricane Melissa and are working closely with them to ensure every donation reaches those who truly need it.

We’ll personally be in Jamaica in February to deliver supplies, assist with meal distribution, and help begin the rebuilding process. This is a direct, hands-on effort — family helping family, community to community!!

Please consider donating, sharing, or spreading the word. With your help, we can bring hope, light, and strength back to Burnt Ground, Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth. Thank you all so much and God Bless.