My name is Diahna and the community of 600 homes where I grew up - Westgreen, Montego Bay in northwestern Jamaica - is in serious need.

The western half of the island recently took a direct hit from Hurricane Melissa, which came ashore as a devastating Category 5. The storm's impact has been immense, causing widespread flooding and damage. In Westgreen and the surrounding areas, every home experienced flooding. Though my family and I are based in the United States, our family home in Westgreen had about 5 feet of water rush through it, leaving behind 4 feet of heavy mud. Some neighbors had it even worse, with water levels reaching 7 feet or completely submerging cars or their first floor.

Right now, it is a huge challenge for everyone to get back on their feet. After the hurricane, almost 80% of the island was without basic services like electricity, running water, and reliable communication.

Fortunately, many homes in Jamaica are built with concrete, and some are multi-story, which allowed some people to get to higher ground. I believe this minimized the loss of life, though Melissa was more powerful than Katrina, and for that we are grateful.

The reality, though, is that the road ahead is long and expensive. The simple fact is that homeowner's insurance isn't a thing in Jamaica, meaning the cost of cleaning up and rebuilding falls directly on individual families (the government is moving slowly). Every resident of Westgreen is now faced with the monumental task of digging out from the mud and repairing their homes and lives.

I’ve previously shared information about large, official relief organizations, but many friends and family have asked me if there's a more direct way to support my immediate family and the Westgreen community.

This is the way. I am raising funds specifically to help the residents of Westgreen. These donations will go toward purchasing crucial immediate supplies (like solar generators and solar lights), assisting families to rebuild, and supporting neighborhood clean up efforts and services.

Thank you so much for considering supporting the place and the people I call home.