Help My Family Rebuild After Hurricane Melissa

https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/hurricane-melissa-leaves-trail-of-devastation-in-jamaica-250947141944

My name is Paul and I’m reaching out for help after Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Category 5 hurricanes ever recorded, devastated Jamaica.

The eye of the hurricane passed directly over the island, leaving behind a trail of unimaginable destruction. Homes were ripped apart. Power and water are out in many areas. And for countless families, life as they knew it has been changed forever.

This tragedy has hit my own family directly. My elderly parents, Pauline and Shirley were affected. My sisters, Claudette and Nevita were affected as well. My brother Clive’s home, which was in the process of being built, was damaged.

Their roofs were either torn off during the storm, or damaged, and heavy rain poured into their home, damaging everything inside. They live in a remote part of Jamaica — far from hospitals, shelters, or organized relief efforts. There’s no quick help coming. Right now, they’re facing days and nights without power, without proper shelter, and with very limited access to food and clean water.

Every human being deserves the basics: food, water, and a safe place to sleep.

But without a roof, they have none of these things. And with hurricane season still active, every new rainfall brings more flooding and damage.

We’re humbly asking for your help to give them a chance to rebuild.

Your donation, no matter how small, will be sent directly to my family (my elderly parents and several of my siblings) through MoneyGram to my niece Judian as soon as services are restored. Funds will then be used to purchase locally from a less impacted portion of the island:

Roofing materials and repairs

Food and clean drinking water

Emergency supplies like flashlights, batteries, and tarps

Judian will then transport these items to the southwestern part of the island to family.

My family here in the US is also contributing what we can. But they’ve lost so much, and right now, they need our community to lift them up.

If you’ve ever wanted to be sure your kindness truly reaches someone in need, this is one of those moments. Every share, every dollar, and every message of support means the world. ❤️

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping my family find safety, hope, and home again. As a note: the beneficiary on the ground in Jamaica is my niece Judian. She is buying all supplies locally in a less affected area of Jamaica and transporting them down with the money received from donors.