Help Rebuild Southern Trelawny, Jamaica After Devastating Hurricane

My name is Michael Codling, and I currently serve as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher in Orlando, Florida.

I’m passionate about helping vulnerable communities and that passion began in my own hometown.

I was born and raised in Rock Spring, a rural community in South Trelawny, Jamaica, and today, I’m calling on your help. Southern Trelawny is a region known for its rich culture, strong community ties, and as the largest producer of yam in Jamaica—a vital part of the country’s agricultural economy. Southern Trelawny has played a pivotal role in shaping the person I am today. The experiences and memories from this constituency have deeply influenced my values, perspectives, and overall outlook on life. Now, some of those institutions are damaged and need our help to continue their good work of producing global citizens

A powerful category 5 hurricane recently swept through Jamaica, leaving southern Trelawny with widespread devastation in its wake. From Rock Spring to neighboring farming villages and hillside communities, families are struggling to recover. Homes were destroyed, roads washed out, and crops—the lifeblood of many households—completely lost. The damage is heartbreaking, and the need is urgent.

My Relationship to the People I’m Raising Funds For

The families affected by the recent hurricane are my neighbors, childhood friends, elders, and extended family. I grew up among them, and I know firsthand the strength and humility of these communities. Many of the people impacted are farmers, parents, and children I’ve known all my life. Their homes, farms, churches and schools have been devastated and they need urgent support.

What Happened:

• Entire communities in South Trelawny were hit hard by the storm

• Roofs torn off homes, leaving families exposed to the elements

• Flooding and landslides cut off access to aid and supplies

• Crops and livestock wiped out, threatening food security

• Schools and churches that once served as emergency shelters are destroyed

How Your Support Helps:

• Emergency relief: food, water, clothing, hygiene kits

• Roofing materials and home repairs

• Farming supplies to restart local agriculture

• Solar lights and water purification systems

• School supplies for displaced children

I will be working with local volunteers, Justices of the Peace (JPs), community leaders, and school administrators to ensure every dollar goes directly to the families who need it most. Southern Trelawny is a region full of strength, culture, and heart, but right now, it needs our help to heal.

Why This Matters:

Southern Trelawny is not only home to proud, resilient people; it’s also the largest producer of yam in Jamaica, a crop that plays a vital role in the country’s food supply and economy. Hurricane Melissa has devastated yam farms across the region, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers and the food security of countless others. Rebuilding here means more than restoring homes; it means restoring a critical part of Jamaica’s agricultural backbone.

As someone who grew up in Rock Spring and now serves vulnerable students in Florida, I know the power of community and compassion. This fundraiser is my way of giving back to the place that raised me and helping others rise from the storm.

Please donate, share, and spread the word. Together, we can bring hope and healing to South Trelawny.