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 10/28/25, 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 March/April 2026.
The storm severely damaged the wood walls and zinc roofs of each home and blew one off its foundation. Most belongings (mattresses, clothing, school items, and basic furnishings) were soaked or blown away. The homes are small one-room structures with no 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 to help rebuild their lives:
1. BUILD A NEW ONE-ROOM CONCRETE HOME, BETWEEN THEIR TWO EXISTING HOMES.
2. MAKE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO THE TWO EXISTING ONE-ROOM WOODEN HOMES.
3. REPLACE SOME ESSENTIAL BELONGINGS - mattresses, bedding, 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.
- As planned, we are scaling the project scope based on the amount of funds raised.
- If we're blessed to hit our $35k goal, we will add a water line (water supply available) for an indoor sink and toilet. This would improve their daily lives so much.
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Management of Project and Funds
Colleen and I recently met in Grange Hill Jamaica with local contractors and together inspected the existing homes and property. Plans are being prepared. We will closely monitor the building projects and control the funds disbursement to ensure quality work.
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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