Hey all, for those of you who don't know me, it's Elly (from Pennington, NJ) and I'm here to do something I don't normally do...ask for your help.

As many of you know, Jamaica has become very special to Eric and me...it's our home away from home, our own little slice of paradise, our own small piece of heaven on earth. Through our travels, we've met so many wonderful people but have had the great fortune to develop a very special and close relationship with a local Jamaican family.

Sasha, her daughter Zoya (7), her son Gian (1.5), her sister Keithia, and her son Cade (4), all live together in a tiny zinc-roofed house perched in the steep lush hills of Negril. Keithia works for one of the resort chains that was hardest hit, and Sasha just became a customer service representative "working from home" to help take care of her children. Without these incomes, this female-led family has nothing.

Heartbreakingly, Melissa chose to release her wrath on Negril and as she approached, tearing through the island we love, it forced Sasha and Keithia to pack what they could, board their open-air windows, and evacuate to safer ground with the children to ride out the storm as best they could.

We had been receiving storm updates and videos from Sasha as Melissa approached, and the pictures said it all. With what Melissa has done to the main town of Negril, we worry for these dear friends whose house in the hills was subject to torrential downpours and massive mudslides. There may be a home left to come back to. And there may not be. The updates have stopped for now and we can only assume they are without power, internet or running water.

So, please consider joining Eric and me in our efforts to help...a donation of any kind, no matter how small, will have a real impact. All monies raised here will DIRECTLY benefit Sasha and her family, helping with cleanup efforts, food, water and the essentials they will need in the coming weeks.

The paradise of Negril is where we had the fortune to get engaged, where we came back to marry, and where we chose to honeymoon. There is no other place in the world we would rather be...a beautiful island country with incredible people who are warm, welcoming, kind, and generous.

They need our help, will you join us?

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. All things ❤️❤️ One love