Hi, I’m Sara. On Tuesday, October 28th at 1:00 PM EDT, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a record-breaking Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds. Thousands of people on the island have been left displaced, without homes, food, water, and so much more. Some of those people happen to be some of my closest friends and family that are in desperate need of your support.

In 2018, I started my first college job, working as a lifeguard. For four years, I worked alongside hundreds of Jamaican work and travel students, and many became not just my coworkers, but my family. When Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Tuesday, most of my closest friends were lucky enough to have their homes spared, but some of them were not as fortunate. Many of my friends and their families lost everything, from their homes to their belongings. I sat by my phone that night and cried, thinking what could I possibly do to help so many people? I prayed and heard God clear as day ask me: “Well, what are you waiting for?”

I called my friend Brianna the very next day, who is living in Kingston. She was quick to jump into action with me as we started planning how we could get food and supplies to our families and friends who are needing support. We called local agencies, churches, family members, and more, and have been working tirelessly since to gather supplies and donations. After days of searching, we have gathered some supplies to have sent down, but the work is far from over. We need as much help as we can to help pay for more supplies to pack into barrels, and to have them shipped to Jamaica.

There are plenty of reputable organizations and charities that are planning to send supplies down to Jamaica. I would never in a million years tell you not to send your money there. All of Jamaica needs help, and every person affected by this tragedy deserves it. At the end of the day, Brianna and I are two people, and while we can’t help all of Jamaica, we can help our families and the people we love. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” It is no accident that God put on my heart Tuesday night to start this journey to helping my friends, because He knew that no matter if we gathered $100 or $10,000, He was going to bless it no matter what.

Our plan now is to put aside whatever we can for our friends and family, and take the rest out into the communities that need it most to share the love with them. We will be using the funds raised to buy clothing, non perishable food, water, baby supplies, personal hygiene products, and other supplies that may be needed for our families in need. I am fully believing God to bring the right people here to want to help those that are so, so very near and dear to my heart.

If you made it this far, I love you, and if nothing else, I ask that you keep us in your prayers as we do everything we can to gather supplies and money. I know that God has already paved the way, and I am endlessly grateful for your support. ❤️