Jamaica is a nation of resiliency and unity. On a personal note, many of my family emigrated from Jamaica beginning in the 1960s, and many still reside in the country today. The Jamaican national motto “out of many, one people” represents the importance of unity. In times of adversity, the spirit of that motto is imbued in the fabric of Jamaican culture. This spirit of unity shapes our way of life, whether we live in Jamaica or are part of the Diaspora.

On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, devastating the island. It was a Category 5 hurricane and has been labeled the “storm of the century,” the most powerful ever to hit the island with wind speeds of up to 185 mph.

Currently, the destruction from the hurricane is devastating and the immediate extent of the damage is still unknown. Jamaica is tackling the effects of climate change and still recovering from Hurricane Beryl (2024), therefore the long term impacts from Hurricane Melissa and past disasters is truly catastrophic. People have lost their homes, loved ones, and essential services.

Please join me and the Friends of the WARE COLLECTIVE (FoWARE) to provide funds to help rebuild the communities of southern Saint Elizabeth in Jamaica. The FoWARE is a US based 501(c)(3) organization that works alongside the WARE COLLECTIVE in Jamaica. Their mandate is community building and heritage preservation. Your targeted donation will be used to set up accounts at local, Jamaican-owned companies, where community members can purchase building supplies such as lumber, roofing materials and cement.

Our fundraising goals are to:

No donation amount is insignificant. Please feel free to pass this link along to your friends, family, and communities.

This message cannot possibly convey the breadth of devastation that Jamaica has faced, but I hope it prompts you to support and contribute in any way feasible. We will rebuild and persevere but any and all support is paramount at this time.