- N
- P
- A
The sounds of hammering and chain-sawing have started in Jamaica, and they seem never ending. "Total Devastation" and "Unrecognizable" are the words I hear from friends and family. I never thought I'd find myself writing this. I never imagined I'd need to ask for help like this. But then again, none of us expected Hurricane Melissa. The attached photos were copied from Lasanik Reid, a local youtuber live covering Southern Trelawny.
On October 28th, 2025, a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane tore through Jamaica with devastating force, and Trelawny—my home parish, the place where I was born and raised—took one of the hardest hits. Trelawny isn't just my home. It's one of Jamaica's bread basket. This parish feeds our nation. The fertile hills and valleys of Trelawny produce the vegetables that stock markets across Jamaica and the yams that grace dinner tables from Kingston to Montego Bay.
When Trelawny thrives, Jamaica eats. But right now, Trelawny is on its knees.
WHAT HURRICANE MELISSA DID TO US
The destruction is almost incomprehensible:
Agriculture Devastated:
- Entire farms have been wiped out—crops ripped from the ground, greenhouses flattened
- Years of coffee plants destroyed in hours
- Yam fields buried under debris and flooding
- Livestock killed or scattered
- Irrigation systems destroyed
Communities in Crisis:
- Homes completely destroyed—families now sleeping in damaged churches, schools, or with neighbors,
- Roofs torn off, walls collapsed, belongings lost
- People lost food, clothing and shelter
- No electricity in most areas (and counting)
- Contaminated water supplies
- Communication systems completely destroyed.
- Roads impassable—cutting off remote villages from aid
- Schools damaged or destroyed—our children have nowhere to learn
- Small businesses that families depended on are gone
Lives Changed Forever:
My neighbors are suffering due to having lost a lot. The community center where we gathered for celebrations is destroyed. The people I grew up with—hardworking farmers, shopkeepers, teachers, fishermen—are now homeless, jobless, and heartbroken.
But daily when my family wakes up, the first thing they hear is the knocking of hammers and the buzzing of chainsaws. They are hard at work, rebuilding the day after the storm.
WHY I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP
I'm Kimone Campbell, born and raised in Trelawny. Trelawny is forever in my blood. I am currently a Real Estate Agent with LPT Realty, living in Apopka, Florida. These are my people. This is my community. I cannot stand by and watch my home parish suffer. I cannot do this alone, but together, we can make a real difference. This is not just about rebuilding houses and farms. This is about restoring hope.
HOW YOUR DONATION WILL BE USED
Every single dollar will go directly to relief and rebuilding efforts in communities in Trelawny, specifically from Troy to Albert Town, as far as we can reach. Here's exactly where your money will go
IMMEDIATE RELIEF (First 30 Days):
- Delviering and Installing Starlink Internet in a few of the local communities to enable communication for several families.
- Emergency food supplies - Rice, flour, canned goods, water, baby formula. The funds will be delivered to local charities or we are aiming to send pallets of food by ship to the island and distributed locally.
- Medical supplies - First aid kits, medications, hygiene products
- Temporary shelter materials - Tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, flashlights
- Clean water - Water purification tablets, storage containers, distribution
- Basic necessities - Clothing, shoes, personal hygiene items
SHORT-TERM RECOVERY (1-6 Months):
- Home repairs - Roofing materials, lumber, tools for families to rebuild
- School supplies - Books, uniforms, desks so our children can return to learning
- Small business support - Helping vendors, shop owners, and tradespeople restart
- Agricultural restart kits - Seeds, seedlings, basic tools for farmers to replant
- Community cleanup - Equipment and supplies to clear debris and restore access
WHO WILL MANAGE THE FUNDS
I am working directly with trusted community leaders in Trelawny, including:
Local churches and community organizations
The Trelawny Parish Council
Farmers' cooperatives
School administrators
Village councils who know exactly who needs help most
Transparency matters: I will provide regular updates with photos, videos, and receipts showing exactly how every dollar is spent. You'll see the impact of your generosity firsthand through the Instagram account attached to this drive.
WHY TRELAWNY MATTERS TO ALL OF US
When you help Trelawny, you're helping all of Jamaica.
When our farmers can't plant, food prices rise across the island. When our Yam trees are gone, our economy suffers. When our communities are broken, our nation is weaker.
But when Trelawny rises again—and we will—Jamaica rises with us.
We are resilient people. We are survivors. We've faced hardships before, and we've always come back stronger. But we cannot do this alone.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Any amount makes a difference:
$25 - Provides a week of food for a family
$50 - Supplies emergency shelter materials (tarp, rope, basic tools)
$100 - Gives a farmer seeds and tools to replant
$250 - Helps repair a roof so a family can return home
$500 - Provides school supplies for an entire classroom
$1,000 - Helps a small business owner restart their livelihood
$2,500+ - Contributes to rebuilding a community center or agricultural facility
Can't donate? You can still help:
- Share this campaign on social media
- Send it to friends, family, churches, community groups
- Pray for Trelawny and Jamaica
- Keep us in your thoughts as we rebuild
A MESSAGE FROM MY HEART
Growing up in Trelawny taught me everything I value: hard work, community, resilience, and faith.
I remember running through farm fields as a child. I remember the smell of yam and coffee roasting. I remember neighbors who became family, who would give you their last meal if you needed it.
These same generous, hardworking people are now the ones in need.
I'm asking you—whether you're Jamaican at home or abroad, whether you've visited our beautiful island, or whether you're just a kind person who wants to help—please consider donating.
Hurricane Melissa destroyed our homes, our farms, and our livelihoods. But it didn't destroy our spirit.
With your help, we will rebuild. We will plant again. We will rise again.
Trelawny raised me. Now I'm asking you to help me raise Trelawny.
One love. One heart. One Jamaica.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thank you for caring. And thank you for any help you can provide.
UPDATES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
I will post updates at least twice a week showing:
- Photos and videos from the ground in Trelawny
- Receipts and documentation of how funds are spent
- Stories and testimonials from people your donations help
- Progress reports on rebuilding efforts
- Transparent breakdown of every expense
You deserve to know your money is making a real impact, and I promise to show you.
UPDATES ON SOCIAL
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homesbykimone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homesbykimone
SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN
Suggested Social Media Post:
"Hurricane Melissa devastated Trelawny, Jamaica—the breadbasket that feeds our nation. Entire farms destroyed. Families homeless. Communities in crisis. I'm supporting the rebuilding effort—please consider donating or sharing. Every dollar helps. Link: https://gofund.me/d8de2e11b #TrelawnyStrong #JamaicaRelief #HurricaneMelissa"
Hashtags to use:
#TrelawnyStrong #RebuildTrelawny #JamaicaRelief #HurricaneMelissa #JamaicanStrong #CaribbeanRelief #TrelawnyJamaica #HelpJamaica #DisasterRelief #OneJamaica
IN CLOSING
Trelawny has always been more than a place on a map to me. It's home. It's family. It's the land that raised me and fed me, both literally and spiritually.
Now, that same land is crying out for help.
I believe in the goodness of people. I believe that when we come together, we can move mountains—or in this case, rebuild them.
Please help me help my home.
Every donation, every share, every prayer matters.
From the bottom of my heart—and on behalf of every person in Trelawny who will benefit from your kindness—thank you.
May God bless you, and may God bless Jamaica.
With deep gratitude,
Kimone Campbell
Proud Daughter of Trelawny
Apopka, Florida
Organizer
