I am sure you have all seen the devastation to Jamaica caused by Hurricane Melissa. The influx of images and videos from childhood friends who weathered the storm on top of national news have been incredibly jarring and overwhelming. It took days to hear from my brother, and my sister lost her home. I am still trying to contact or even receive word about my extended family who live in rural areas.

I need your help and support.

My immediate goal is to help my extended family in the rural mountains outside of Montego Bay. For generations they have survived as subsistence farmers – faithfully taking their produce to the market every Saturday. I assume they have lost everything. The images you see on this website and elsewhere of severe damage to urban areas with many concrete buildings cannot compare to the devastation of rural villages constructed from clapboard and tin roofs.

Funds raised will first provide for their most pressing and immediate needs - food, water, clothing, tools - providing temporary shelter and rebuilding their homes. To restore them to a place of relative stability.

If we exceed my initial fundraising goal, I will identify opportunities to assist other community members in my family’s network.

Thank you will all my heart.

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On our last trip to Jamaica, we visited my extended family in Kensington, a rural community southeast of Montego Bay.