My name is Kasata, and I am a Jamaican teacher currently living and working in the UK. It is with a heavy heart that I write on behalf of my family which has been displaced by Hurricane Melissa.

Living in Brown Hill, a small, humble community nestled in Claremont, St. Ann, we have faced years of hardship. But despite all of that, we began to rise- believing in ourselves, finding purpose and a renewed sense of hope that things could change.

Sadly, the hurricane has taken so much of that away. My grandmother’s house, my mother’s house, and my father’s house have all been destroyed. The weight of this loss has been unbearable. I have been unable to sleep; the thought of how I can possibly help them all at once is overwhelming. I feel lost and helpless.

I know that you have many demands placed upon you, but I am asking — from one human being to another — to please consider helping us to recover. We are a small community, and we fear we will be forgotten amidst the larger-scale devastation.

We have worked so hard to rebuild our lives, and it would mean everything to know that support could reach those who need it most.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my message. I appreciate all that you do and sincerely hope you might help us in this time of great need.