My name is Naomi. I live in London many miles away from the direct impact Hurricane Melissa left behind, as I'm sure many of you have seen. Even though I'm so far away, it is heart breaking to see the damage to my family's homes and farmland and I'm hoping to raise some money to support them.

As you can see from the photos of the remains of my uncle’s home, roofs have been torn away and walls have collapsed. They have also lost animals, and the land they live and work from has been completely destroyed.

Right now, they’re staying in emergency accommodation, like so many other families across Jamaica who’ve been displaced by the storm. They’ve lost not only their homes, but their livelihoods - everything they’ve worked so hard to build over the years.

My family are proud, hard-working people who live simply and rely on what they grow and raise. They’ve lost not just their homes, but their way of living.

I’ve created this page to try help them rebuild their homes, restore their land, and replace the animals and supplies they’ve lost. Some of the money will also help them with the basics - food, clothes, and day-to-day living - while they try to get back on their feet and start rebuilding. It’s going to take time, but every bit of support helps - even a few pounds can buy nails, cement, or animal feed.

As a family, we’re doing what we can ourselves, but any extra help would mean the world! This really isn’t something I ever thought I’d do, or imagined I'd have to contemplate doing - I’m a very private person and feel uncomfortable asking - but this is about them, not me.

Funds raised will go directly towards:

-Building materials and local labour to repair homes

-Replacing livestock (goats, chickens, etc)

-Tools, fencing, and essentials for the land

-Temporary living costs while rebuilding/recovering

I’ll share updates and photos (like the one of my uncle’s destroyed home already posted) so you can see how your support is helping.

I also want to recognise that my family are not the only ones affected. So many communities across Jamaica have been devastated by this hurricane. If you’d prefer to give to a wider relief effort, please do - here’s a trusted organisation supporting others in need:

Food for the poor JA - Hurricane Melissa Relief https://www.foodforthepoorja.org/hurricane-melissa-relief/Food

If you are able to donate, no matter the amount - it truly means so much! Even if you can’t contribute right now, just sharing this page makes a big difference.

Thank you for reading, and for any support you’re able to offer.

With gratitude,

Naomi