Help Rebuild the Bent Family Home in Black River After Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa has devastated Black River in ways our family could never have imagined. For miles and miles, roofs have been torn off, homes destroyed, and lives uprooted—including our own. Our entire family has lost our homes. My mother’s home, a place that has been a haven for so many, is now completely destroyed.

My mother, Rosaretta Bent (72), has spent her entire life working tirelessly to build the home that Hurricane Melissa has taken away.

She grew up in Sandy Ground in a small two-bedroom house with nine people, sharing one front porch and endless love. She worked as a loan officer at Scotiabank in Black River before coming to America in 1989 searching for a better life. She cleaned homes in Hollywood, Florida, later settling in Adelphi, Maryland and becoming a CNA and LPN—working 8–16 hour shifts, 5–6 days a week for decades.

From the 1990s through 2004, she built her dream home brick by brick. A home she planned to retire in. A home where she hoped to enjoy the fruits of her lifelong labor. A home that reminded all of us where we came from.

Today, that home is unrecognizable.

The majority of the roof has been ripped off.

Every room has been destroyed.

Nothing inside is salvageable.

Rain continues to worsen the damage each day.

This home wasn’t just a structure—it was a cornerstone of community care. It welcomed travelers, held countless family celebrations, and served as a refuge for anyone in need. It was where her grandchildren learned their roots and felt most connected to their heritage. It was a place of safety, warmth, and love.

Now, it is gone.

We are raising $15,000 to help rebuild the essential structure of the home—reinforcing the walls, replacing the roof, installing windows and doors, and restoring the basic foundation so my mother has a safe place to live.

No amount is too small, and every donation will help us begin putting the pieces back together.

Thank you for your generosity, your love, and your prayers during this heartbreaking time.

Location: Flat Rock, Black River

Beneficiary: Rosaretta Bent, age 72