Short Summary

Hurricane Melissa tore off roofs and swept away homes across Burnside, Cash Hill, Donalva, Medley, and Patty Hill (Hanover). Power and cell service are down, and these remote communities will be among the last restored. With Jamaica’s import tax waiver expiring Nov 28, we’re racing to ship shelter, lighting, clothing, food, and communications now. Please help us act in time.

The Story

Hurricane Melissa devastated many communities in Hanover on October 28. Families in board houses lost everything; many with concrete homes lost roofs, windows, and suffered extensive flooding. Elders, babies, and school-age children are sleeping in communal and damaged spaces without light or connectivity. The community has access to natural spring water but urgently needs dry shelter, clothing, food, and a way to reconnect with loved ones and services.

We are a grassroots team of former residents in the USA working directly with former and current residents on the ground to buy, pack, and ship exactly what’s needed fast so relief reaches Burnside, Cash Hill, Donalva, Medley, and Patty Hill while import taxes are waived through November 28.

Who We Are

Lead Organizer: Deborah Wood, former resident of Burnside and Cash Hill

Organizers: Several former Residents of Hanover, Jamaica

On-Island Distribution: Former residents and trusted community leads in each town (Burnside, Cash Hill, Donalva, Medley, Patty Hill)

Focus: Roof-over-head, lighting, clothing, food, and charging/communications hubs so families can reconnect.

How We’ll Deploy (in order of priority)

Priority 1 — Life-Safety, Clothing & Communications

Shelter & light: tarps/rope, solar lanterns/flashlights, batteries

Clothing essentials: dry basics for children and adults; rain gear and water boots for cleanup

Food: Ready To Eat items and staples for immediate relief

Two Communications & Charging Hubs per community: Starlink Standard + Ethernet Adapter + router + outdoor Wi‑Fi access point + generator (≤5kW) so residents can get online and charge phones

Priority 2 — Stabilization

Extra tarps and fixings; debris‑clearance tools; heavy‑duty trash bags

Additional clothing, bedding/linens to replace what was flooded

Portable cooking stoves/butane; first‑aid kit /Over the Counter restock

Bulk shipments via ocean freight; urgent shipment by air cargo, as funds allow

Priority 3 — Early Recovery — Stretch Goal

Roofing materials (zinc, ply board, nails) to secure homes

Kitchen sets for families who lost everything

How the Communications Hubs Work

We will establish two hubs in each community at central, accessible locations. Each hub includes a Starlink Standard unit with Ethernet Adapter, a small router, an outdoor Wi‑Fi access point mounted high for wide coverage, a generator (≤5kW) for reliable power, and safe charging stations (surge‑protected power strips). The hubs are free for all residents to charge phones, send messages, access emergency information, and coordinate distributions.

What Your Gift Buys (examples)

$25 = 2 solar lanterns or 1 family hygiene kit

$50 = Clothing essentials for one person (dry basics)

$100 = Tarp + rope + fixings to keep one family dry

$250 = Tools & protective gear for a cleanup crew section

$500 = Radio + power bank + lighting for a block captain

$1,200 = Fuel/ops support to run a comm hub for two weeks

$3,500 = Ocean pallet of shelter, clothing, and hygiene supplies to Hanover

Funding Goal & Stretch

We’re launching at $60,000 to move Priority 1–2 immediately.

Stretch Goal: $125,000 to complete Priority 3 (roof materials, generators for hubs/clinics, kitchen sets, additional bedding/linens).

Phase 1 (Days 1–7) — Life-safety + clothing + 10 comm hubs — $25,000: 10× Starlink kits + Ethernet adapters; 10× routers; 10× outdoor APs; 10 hubs total (2/community) with generators; tarps/rope; lanterns; clothing essentials; Ready To Eat food; initial air cargo.

Phase 2 (Days 8–21) — Stabilization & bulk — $35,000: Extra tarps/fixings; tools/PPE; trash bags; bedding/linens; portable stoves/butane; first‑aid/OTC; ocean LCL + last‑mile.

Initial Goal — $60,000.

Phase 3 (Weeks 3–8) — Early recovery (stretch) — +$65,000 → $125,000 total: Roofing materials (zinc/ply/nails); kitchen sets; additional ≤5kW generators.

Transparency & Updates

We’ll post weekly updates with photos/videos from each community hub and distribution; a simple public ledger snapshot by category (Shelter, Clothing, Food, Power/Comms, Freight, Last‑mile); and packing lists and shipping docs (with sensitive info redacted). Governance: two signers on funds; two‑person approval for purchases; no salaries or stipends—100% to relief, logistics, and essential admin.

How Else You Can Help?

Photos

We will add on‑the‑ground photos (damage, packing, hubs) at launch and in each weekly update thereafter.