Our family is asking for your help to rebuild the lives - and severely damaged homes - of our sons' three siblings still living in Jamaica.
Before we adopted Omar and Odane in 2018, they lived in Jamaica. They have two sisters, Shameka and Kerry Ann, who live in Grange Hill and their brother, Junior, who lives in Darliston. On 10/21/25, these small, rural communities took a direct hit from Hurricane Melissa, a devastating Category 5 storm that unleashed torrential rains, flooding, and 180mph+ winds, the worse storm to ever hit Jamaica. Grange Hill and Darliston are deep in the sugar cane fields of the Jamaican countryside, far from popular tourist destinations. These remote inland towns get limited relief funds and expect to be without power and water until at least January.
The storm destroyed or severely damaged the wood walls and zinc roofs of each of the siblings’ three homes. Most of their belongings (mattresses, clothing, school items, and basic furnishings) were soaked or blown away. These were small, simple homes without indoor plumbing or kitchens. They boil water for drinking and cook with a propane cooktop or open fire.
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We are raising funds for two urgent projects:
PROJECT 1: BUILD TWO CONCRETE HOMES IN GRANGE HILL, AND REPLACE ESSENTIAL BELONGINGS (mattresses, bedding, portable propane stovetop, etc.).
- Kerry Ann and Shameka (and Shameka’s two daughters) live on the same yard in two separate wooden homes that were severely damaged by the hurricane. Local builders provided estimates of USD $100 per sq. ft. for materials and construction of basic, hurricane-resistant concrete homes (including pad/floor, block walls, and concrete/slab roof).
- GOAL: Raise USD $50,000 to build two 16 x 16 ft. single-room homes ($25k each) with electricity (no plumbing, kitchen, toilet , or shower). These homes would give Shameka and Kerry Ann something they have never had: a safe, solid place to live that can withstand future storms.
- We will scale the size of each home up or down based on the amount of funds raised. If we are blessed enough to surpass our goal, we will add a water line (water supply available) for an indoor sink, toilet, and outdoor shower. This would transform their daily lives for the better.
PROJECT 2: BUILD A WOOD HOME IN DARLISTON, AND REPLACE ESSENTIAL BELONGINGS (mattresses, bedding, etc.).
- Our sons’ half-brother, Junior, lives with his mother and others in the town of Darliston, which took a direct hit from the hurricane's eye. All that remains of their home is a small concrete-walled kitchen and bathroom. The roof and wooden walls of the home are gone. They temporarily put a makeshift roof over the concrete kitchen where they’re currently living with several neighbors. We hope to rebuild their home.
- GOAL 2: Raise USD $15,000 to build one approximately 16 x 16 ft. single-room home with hurricane-resistant zinc roof and wood walls (built around the existing concrete kitchen and bathroom); and to purchase some essential home furnishings and items that were ruined.
- We will scale the size of the home up or down based on the amount of funds raised. If we are blessed enough to surpass our goal, we will use concrete vs. wood.
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Management of Project and Funds
Colleen and I are scheduled to visit the family in January and will closely monitor the building projects and control the funds disbursement.
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Our Family Snapshot
Joe and Colleen married in 1988 and were blessed to have three beautiful children: Alex, Anthony, and Maria. On a 2015 mission trip to Jamaica, Maria first met Odane (12) and Omar (10) when they were living in an orphanage. They were born in Grange Hill but moved to an orphanage a few years after their mom passed away. We began the adoption process in 2016 and brought them officially into our family and their new home in Bay Village, Ohio in 2018. Now 23 and 21, Odane and Omar have grown to become fine young men whose warmth, strength and perseverance are truly inspiring.
Odane's and Omar's siblings and extended family, including Grandma, aunts, and cousins, remain in Jamaica and have very limited resources. They’re all kind, hardworking people doing the best they can. Although daily life isn’t too easy, they are faith-filled and live with tremendous joy and passion. This is our chance to give them safety, dignity, and hope.
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Every Mikkle Mek a Muckle (“every little bit adds up”)
This island proverb, spoken in Jamaica’s national language of Creole or Patois, is fun to say and sums up our fundraising effort perfectly! Please consider donating and please share this GoFundMe with others. Each donation brings these young adults closer to having safe, dry homes with beds to rest.
Thank you for standing with our family and helping us rebuild what Hurricane Melissa has taken away.
With much love and gratitude,
Joe + Colleen, Alex, Anthony + Sophie, Maria, Odane, and Omar