On October 28–29, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm. With sustained winds of up to 185 mph, it is now the strongest hurricane ever recorded to strike Jamaica.

The parish of St. Elizabeth Parish was reported “underwater,” and the town of Black River suffered widespread structural damage. Damage has also extended inland where small towns and villages are cut off due to impassable roads and collapsed bridges. About 77% of Jamaica’s power customers lost electricity, with hospitals, homes, roads, and key infrastructure severely impacted.

I was born and raised in Jamaica — in the same communities of St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland now devastated by Hurricane Melissa. The people there are some of the most generous and hardworking you’ll ever meet. They’ve always given without hesitation, and now they need us.

Even though I live in the U.S. now, my heart breaks to see what’s happened back home. Please help me bring relief to families who’ve lost everything — every dollar counts

Why your help matters:

Families have lost roofs, homes, and essential utilities;

Communities are isolated due to flooded roads and damaged infrastructure;

Urgent needs include clean water, emergency shelter, food supply, and rebuilding essentials;

Early relief will reduce suffering and stabilize communities so longer-term recovery can begin.

Our goal:

We aim to raise US $15000 to support relief efforts in severely affected Jamaican parishes (especially St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland) by:

Supplying emergency kits (water, food, hygiene items) for 100 families

Funding temporary shelter and safe accommodation for displaced households

Supporting repairs to homes and community buildings (schools, clinics)

Providing funding to partner with trusted local organizations working on the ground

How funds will be used :

I will be visiting the disaster area in late December to identify, meet, assess needy recipients in the Darliston area of Westmorland. During this time, funds will be transferred by me to a holding account to distribute and benefit the following:

Direct donation the non-profit World Central Kitchen Jamaica Recovery campaign who has been providing thousands of meals in the affected area.

School supplies (notebooks, bags, etc) for affected children of Endfield Primary School in the Darliston district. In addition a donation to assist in the repair of the damaged school will be made to the school Principal.

Cash and provide building supply donation to at least 5 families for rebuilding and repair of damaged homes, roofs.

The remaining funds will go to logistics, local partner coordination and reporting.

We will post regular updates, photos, receipts and partner acknowledgments so donors can track impact.

Our promise:

100% of donated funds (after platform fees) will go towards relief and recovery in Jamaica

We will work in partnership with trusted local Jamaican organizations and community leaders

We will provide periodic updates starting in December until the core relief phase is completed

How you can help:

Donate now — every dollar counts

Share this fundraiser with your network, on social media, WhatsApp groups, community or church newsletters

If you have access, consider matching gift commitments or sponsoring a full family emergency kit

Send messages of encouragement — our Jamaican friends and neighbors deeply value the moral support

Thank you:

Your kindness today brings hope and tangible help to those facing one of the worst natural disasters in Jamaica’s modern history. Together, we can help rebuild lives and restore resilience.