Help Rebuild St. Elizabeth, Jamaica and Restore Jamaica’s Breadbasket

Hello... I’m Lamar Hodges, born and raised in Munro St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. I graduated from Black River High School, and my heart has always been deeply rooted in my parish in its people, its rich culture, and its vibrant farms. I currently live in the USA and visit often as my family has a farm in St. Elizabeth.

St. Elizabeth is not just my home, it's known as Jamaica’s “breadbasket.” We produce around 22% of the country’s food: fruits, vegetables, natural seasonings, livestock … our farms feed the nation.

But recently, Hurricane Melissa tore through our parish and destroyed so much. Lives were disrupted, but among the hardest hit were the farmers. Decades of work, entire harvests, and their livelihoods were wiped out. Crops are gone. Animals are lost.

This GoFundMe is dedicated to helping those farmers rebuild to help them bounce back stronger. The money we raise will go directly to:

Purchasing seeds and young trees, so we can replant critical crops;

Replenishing livestock, to restore the animals that sustain many farming families;

Rebuilding farm infrastructure, so these farms can once again produce food for our parish and for Jamaica.

Right now, many organizations are focusing on rebuilding homes and providing emergency relief and that’s incredibly important. But this fundraiser focuses on rebuilding our farms, because without our farmers, the backbone of St. Elizabeth’s identity and Jamaica’s food supply is weakened.

Your donation will help restore more than just land; it will help restore hope, pride, and a way of life for the people who feed us all.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and support. Together, we can nurture renewal for St. Elizabeth, for Jamaica, and for future generations.