The beautiful island of Jamaica has suffered devastating impacts from Hurricane Melissa. All 14 parishes have been affected, with homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure severely damaged, destroyed, or flooded. Access to healthcare and aid was already limited, especially in rural areas, and the loss of four major hospitals has placed the healthcare system under extraordinary strain. The people of Jamaica need meaningful relief efforts to rebuild not only their communities, but also their hope.
My name is Emma (Kolb) Farrell and I am an alumni of Fairfield, CT's Sacred Heart University's undergraduate nursing program. During my time there, I had the privilege of visiting Jamaica on two medical mission trips in 2016 and 2018. These trips were organized with Sister Grace, a local Franciscan nun from the Sisters of Allegany in Kingston. She dedicates her life to serving the poor and marginalized while helping shape the moral foundation of Jamaica’s youth. Through Franciscan Ministries and volunteer networks from overseas, Sister Grace has been instrumental in providing housing, food, medical aid, and education since 1994. Her work has focused on Kingston and the rural areas of St. Catherine, St. Andrew, and St. Elizabeth, communities I’ve personally visited on these trips. Many of these areas depend on overseas volunteers for medical care and on Sister Grace’s initiatives to provide essential resources. After the storm, these regions will lean heavily on her guidance and the volunteer network she’s built to recover.
In the aftermath, it is clear that funds will be needed to support and rebuild the island of Jamaica. Eager to help those I care so deeply for, I have reached out to my peers at Sacred Heart who were able to connect with Sister Grace Yap. I am raising funds that will be withdrawn by myself and deposited into the St. Franciscans' Ministry of Kingston bank account that Sister Grace manages by SHU faculty alumni/dedicated volunteer for the ministry, Shery Watson. Sr. Grace will manage the funds to support the communities most in need, particularly the people who live/lived on the Farm in Braes River. Their entire farm, house dwellings, and livelihood have been destroyed. The land has been flattened leaving the farm exports gone. The communities of Whitfield Town, St. Elizabeth's, Tivoli Garden, and Trenchtown have also been destroyed by wind and flooding. Sister Grace will use the funds raised to purchase food and necessary supplies for daily living and to rebuild their livelihoods. This effort is ongoing, so the funds will be withdrawn from GoFundMe before Christmas and once received, immediately distributed by Sister Grace as described.
Please consider contributing to help bring hope back to these communities. If you’re unable to donate, even offering a prayer or sharing this post can make a meaningful difference. I believe that the richness of life is built on kindness toward others, even in the simplest of acts.
The photos on this page are from my trips to the island: one with myself and Sister Grace, and another with Sister Grace and members of our mission group.