Please help me raise funds for rural neighborhoods from Belmont, Westmoreland to Black River, Saint Elizabeth, and Rio Bueno area of Trelawny in the parts of Jamaica devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

I am Hillary. While I was raised in and spend most of my time in the mountains of N.H., I have traveled all over the world and have been especially blessed with the opportunity to travel to Jamaica throughout my entire life and truly get to know the people and culture of this special place. I have been given the gift of deep real family connections with a few Jamaican families, and these connections I treasure beyond words.

I have known Ras Shabba and his family since I was a child when my parents met him selling his beautiful kete drums and authentic Rasta crafts in 1981. In 1992, I became godmother to his four children and now have grand goddaughters and godsons. Our families are four generations and nearly five decades deep. After becoming close with Shabba with my parents traveling Jamaica in the 80’s and 90’s, my own children and I have stayed in Shabba’s family’s home for two decades when traveling in Jamaica and have made endless memories together. Our children are sisters and brothers. We are family.

I have known Gideon and his family in Westmoreland for nearly 15 years and have supported his evolution in farming, tourism, and natural living and natural ital food businesses consistently since we became friends. We have been in communication nearly daily for fifteen years. I spoke with him at 11 am on Tuesday October 28th as Melissa approached the south coast. He was determined to stay in his beachfront property. His last words to me were “Give thanks for life.” I have not been able to reach him since. Belmont is the next town to New Hope where Melissa made first landfall with 185 mile per hour wind, 36” of rain and nearly 20 foot storm surge from the sea. His home and business are on the beach. We do not have word from that area yet as services and communication are still cut off. However, from drone footage of nearby areas we can assume complete devastation of their wooden structures on the sea, and we can only hope for their safety and lives. I will update information and photos of current situations as I am able once communication services are repaired.

Shabba and Gideon are two of my absolute best life long friends, and my personal and spiritual guides. They and their families are some of the most important people in my and my family’s lives. People who know me know I would give these people and their families the world if I could.

These people and their greater communities have been hit hard by Hurricane Melissa. It’s like an apocalyptic movie but it’s real. They have lost entire houses and business structures, farms, roofs, windows, walls, and endless belongings and livelihoods. They must start from scratch and rebuild homes, businesses, and lives with nothing but their sheer strength, willpower, faith, hope, love, and positive energy, which we all know Jamaicans have an immense supply of despite any challenges thrown their way. Any financial help I can gather and deliver to their communities when I head down multiple times over the next year beginning in November, to purchase initially basic necessities like food and medical goods, and then building materials, basic tools, household goods, and appliances will multiply their strength and power to rebuild their lives and will surely be appreciated far into the future. This is going to be a long road.