Help Rebuild Auchindown After Hurricane Melissa
My family — Rupert, Izon, and Ishua — and their entire community have been devastated.
As many of you know, Hurricane Melissa struck Southwestern Jamaica with catastrophic force — sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts exceeding 200 mph. The storm’s eye passed directly over Jamaica’s South Coast, with the worst destruction in St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland Parishes.
Our family is from Auchindown, Westmoreland — a small rural area known as the Farm District between Bluefields and Whitehouse. This remote, tight-knit community has been completely shattered: homes flattened, families displaced, and livelihoods swept away.
My sister Jacqueline fell in love with Jamaica decades ago. She built her life there, married Rupert (Bingi), and together they raised two sons, Izon and Ishua. Jacqueline was deeply loved — always helping her neighbors, supporting her community, and giving back in every way she could.
After she passed in 2021, Izon and Ishua had to move to the U.S. to finish school. Rupert worked tirelessly to maintain the home they had built together. With Izon’s help from the U.S., they began renting rooms in their home through Airbnb — their only source of income — which also brought travelers to the area and supported other local families.
Recently, Izon had just moved back to Jamaica to help his father run the Airbnb full-time.
Now, everything has been destroyed — their home, their livelihood, and their hope — all torn apart by the storm.
Because Auchindown is so remote, emergency aid will likely take months to reach them, if it reaches them at all. That’s why we are launching this independent fundraiser — to provide immediate relief for Rupert, Izon, and their neighbors.
Funds will go toward essentials like food, clean water, and temporary shelter — and then toward rebuilding their home and supporting others in the community.
This isn’t just about helping one family — it’s about helping an entire community rebuild from nothing. Your donation, no matter the amount, will make a tangible difference.
Please help however you can — by donating, sharing this campaign, and keeping the people of Jamaica and the surrounding islands in your prayers.
#JamaicaStrong
With gratitude,
Charleen & Family
We will continue to share updates and photos as we receive them.
Photo notes & Links:
The highway to their house.
you can see their beautiful home before on the Airbnb links below
How the money will be used:
First priority: Provide food, clean water, and temporary shelter.
Second: Secure a reliable source of solar power for lighting and to charge phones for communication.
We also need a generator for longer-term power, a new phone for communication and Starlink service until cell towers are restored.
Next: Arrange transportation to get supplies — including a car battery and tune-up — and purchase tools to help clear fallen trees and debris.
Finally: Buy lumber, concrete, and other materials needed to rebuild homes and restore stability in the community.
UPDATE:
So far, we have been able to provide:
Immediate food and tarps for temporary shelter
Small power banks and a solar light
A car battery
Resources remain extremely limited, and there are still many in urgent need. We’re currently researching the logistics and cost of shipping additional supplies from the U.S. and will continue to post updates as we’re able.
Jacqueline, Rupert Izon and Ishua in 2009
