My name is Danian Hines, and I was born and raised in the Comfort Hall District, in the Salt Marsh area of Trelawny, Jamaica — a rural community located about 6-8 miles from Falmouth, which was devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

Today, I’m organizing this fundraiser together with other members of our community, both here in the U.S. and in Jamaica, to help families rebuild their homes, restore hope, and bring comfort back to Comfort Hall.

The name of our community is Comfort Hall, but Hurricane Melissa left us with no comfort at all.

Roofs were ripped off, homes flattened, and flooding devastated nearly every household.

Many families lost everything, entire homes swept away, furniture and appliances destroyed, and all personal belongings gone. Even concrete houses that still stand are filled with floodwater and mud, leaving beds, clothing, and electronics completely ruined.

Our area sits below sea level, making it especially vulnerable to flooding. Nearly every home in the community has been affected. Families are now struggling to rebuild, to sleep dry again, and to find comfort in a place where comfort has been washed away.

While help may eventually come from the government or larger aid programs, small rural communities like Comfort Hall are often overlooked, and assistance can take months — or may never reach those who need it most. Based on history, help to areas like ours often takes far too long to arrive, and in some cases, never does. That’s why we’ve decided to take action ourselves.

Our Goal

We are aiming to raise $15,000 USD to assist families in the Comfort Hall District (Salt Marsh area of Falmouth, Trelawny) who have lost their homes and belongings.

This fund represents the first phase of recovery — helping families rebuild basic shelter, restore safety, and bring back a sense of hope. While $15,000 won’t repair every home, it will make a significant difference by helping many families get roofs over their heads again, replace essential items, and begin the long road to recovery.

Every dollar will go directly toward rebuilding and restoring the community providing:

Building materials: zinc sheets, plywood, 2×4 lumber, nails, tarps

Essential household items: beds, mattresses, sheets, towels, clothing, furniture

Basic supplies: food, cleaning materials, toiletries, and school items

All building materials will be purchased locally in Jamaica to reduce freight costs and speed up distribution.

If we’re blessed to exceed our goal, any additional funds will be used to extend assistance to neighboring communities that were also impacted by Hurricane Melissa — including parts of Salt Marsh, Scarlett Hall, and other nearby areas within Trelawny Parish.

Our Team

This campaign was started by Danian Hines, along with Tasheika, and Tashai a small group of community members from Comfort Hall District.

Together with boots-on-the-ground support from our trusted team in Jamaica, Deacon Wint, Pastor Kerr, Minister Hines, and members of the Greater Highway Apostolic Church in Comfort Hall, we’re ensuring transparency, organization, and fair distribution of resources to those most in need.

We’ve already helped several families as much as we can, providing food, basic necessities, and emotional support. Meanwhile, neighbors in the community are working together to clear debris and make temporary shelters.

But the need is far greater than what we can handle alone, and that’s why we’re asking for your partnership.

Physical Donations We’re Accepting:

We’re also collecting new and lightly used items to ship and distribute locally:

Tarps, tents, and temporary shelters for families whose homes were destroyed

Inflatable (air) beds to help families sleep more comfortably while rebuilding

Solar power banks and solar charging stations for lighting and phone charging during outages

Towels, bed sheets, and blankets

School supplies: backpacks, notebooks, textbooks, pens, pencils, crayons, sharpeners, and Bibles

Clothing and footwear for all ages (new or lightly used)

Non-perishable food items: canned goods, rice, pasta, cereal, dry foods

Baby items: diapers, wipes, formula

Toiletries and hygiene products: soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine care items, etc.

Disinfectants and cleaning supplies: Lysol, gloves, buckets, mops

Flashlights, batteries, and small tools

Our first shipment of donated items is planned for mid-November, while Jamaica Customs is waiving duties for hurricane-relief shipments.

We’re working to send as much as possible before that period ends.

For item donations or coordination, please email: [email redacted]

A Personal Note from Danian

My name is Danian Hines, and though I'm now living in the United States, my hearts and roots remain in Comfort Hall.

My birthday is November 10th, and this year, instead of a gift or celebration, my greatest wish is for your support toward this relief fund.

Your contribution, big or small will mean more than any personal gift ever could.

Together, we can help rebuild homes, restore hope, and bring comfort back to Comfort Hall and surrounding areas.

With sincere gratitude,

Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and partnership in helping bring hope back to Comfort Hall and neighboring communities.

Danian Hines & The Comfort Hall Relief Team (U.S. & Jamaica)