Hi everyone,

I am Suwayne Bruce from Jamaica, and I am an international student. It is with a heavy heart and the humblest spirit that I am reaching out to you in dire need of your help. My family in Coker District, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, has been severely affected by Hurricane Melissa. On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, they went through what has been and will probably forever be the most devastating experience of their lives. After tearing off the roof of their home, Melissa also removed their door and windows, forcing my dad, who is almost 70, to stand holding the door in place in hopes of keeping everyone safe while they had to take shelter under a table in the high water. This was their reality for a long while until my dad was able to nail the door back on.

Melissa has since left Jamaica, but the reality she left behind is what we now must face. Due to the devastation that Melissa has left behind, my dad, stepmom, and three younger siblings, like almost everyone else in Jamaica, must seek a way to rebuild. For two nights after the hurricane, they had to find other accommodations because their house was unlivable. This was due to the lack of a roof and the fact that everything was wet. My dad has since managed to nail a few damaged zinc sheets back onto one room so they can have somewhere to sleep, but when it rains, the water still pours in. Additionally, the bed they are sleeping on is still wet and damaged, as is all the furniture in the house.

My dad has been trying to make ends meet through small-scale farming, but with the storm destroying their home and their few possessions, it is now almost impossible.

I am creating this GoFundMe to help purchase a prefab container house for them, essential furniture, and clothing. Every contribution, no matter how small, will help restore a bit of hope to my family.

If you can’t donate, please share this campaign, as it will still mean the world to us. I know times are tough for many, but any support, even words of encouragement, makes a difference.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read this and for caring. My family and I genuinely appreciate your kindness, prayers, and generosity as we try to rebuild from this heartbreak.

With love and gratitude,

Suwayne