As many of you know, I ,Joyette Walton, migrated to the United States from Jamaica at the age of nine, leaving behind my mother, brother, family and friends.

In the midst of hurricane Melissa I reassured my friends who inquired that my family would be okay, “we have better housing structure.” I’d say. With no electricity, no communication, all I could do was have faith and believe. Only to hear the phone ring and one by one, call after call, realizing the real impact of the hurricane. Some family members are still missing, no communication YET. As those who lost their homes move in with friends and family, the concern now for food is even greater. More mouths to feed with no provisions. The farm was flooded and crops destroyed. The goods left in the market storage, destroyed. The restaurant, destroyed. No means of income. No farm to reap goods.

I’m here in Poughkeepsie, but my mind goes back to my cousins and foster family who walked with me to sell vegetables before school so that our school fees could be paid. My heart aches for all of them who are suffering right now. So much is needed.

I’m currently buying groceries and personal items to ship, as many of you know I do regularly. I have my cousin who distributed the ten laptops during COVID and she’ll be the one distributing these funds. She can walk to pick up the money and has found someone able to take the goods into the community. Just to be transparent.

Your support is desperately needed and appreciated.