My best friend, Luna, and her family in Jamaica lost their home during Hurricane Melissa. The storm tore off most of their roof. The kitchen and bathroom roofs are completely gone, and the bedroom roof caved in. Several doors were also destroyed, leaving the family exposed to the elements and sleeping outdoors.

This disaster comes just months after Luna suffered a serious leg injury when she was caught in a stampede at an event. Her leg was crushed, and she underwent surgery after months of uncertainty. Luna’s family, who are proud and close-knit, worked tirelessly to raise the money needed for her operation without asking for outside help. Through their efforts and faith, she made it through the surgery and has been on bed rest, healing and regaining her strength.

Now, the hurricane has undone so much of that hard-won progress. Luna, who has always faced life’s challenges with courage and self-reliance, is struggling to face this new adversity alone.

I live in San Diego and am organizing this fundraiser to help Luna and her family rebuild their home and regain stability. All donations will go to my account and then be wired directly to Luna via Western Union to ensure she receives the funds quickly and securely.

The needs in Jamaica right now are immense and difficult to grasp on a large scale, but I’m doing what I can for who I can. Any contribution, no matter the size, will help Luna and her family start rebuilding their lives after this devastating storm.