My name is Benjamin Smith, and my family comes from Fyffes Pen, a small but proud farming community near Black River in Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica. Both sides of my family were raised there — generations of hardworking people who helped build and feed this community. My grandmother once ran a little shop that served everyone — neighbours, farmers, and travellers passing through. It was more than just a business; it was a gathering place filled with laughter, love, and unity.

Saint Elizabeth has long been known as one of Jamaica’s main agricultural regions — often called “the breadbasket of Jamaica.” The fertile plains around Black River and Fyffes Pen grow cassava, peas, beans, sweet potatoes, pimento, and ginger — crops that help feed the island and support countless families.

But today, our community is in crisis. The recent storm has left a path of devastation — destroying homes, damaging farms, and leaving families without food, water, or shelter. The schools, churches, and hospitals that hold this parish together have also suffered. When a farming region like this is hit, the pain spreads far beyond its borders — food prices rise, livelihoods vanish, and hope can quickly fade.

I’ve launched this campaign to raise funds to help rebuild Fyffes Pen and the surrounding areas of Black River. Every donation will go directly toward essential supplies — food, clean water, building materials — and to help families start again.

This place shaped my family, my values, and the person I am today. Fyffes Pen helped feed Jamaica — and now, Jamaica and the world can help feed Fyffes Pen again.

Please donate and share. Together, we can rebuild with love, pride, and resilience.