My name is Omar Greene, and I grew up in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. This parish is known affectionately as ‘St Bess’ and the ‘Breadbasket of Jamaica’. The parish produces a significant portion of the island’s produce including sugar cane, yams, melons, pimento, ginger, and scallions. Fishing is considered a major industry in the parish which is aided by mix livestock farmers who raise livestock such as goats, pigs, chickens, and cows to feed their families and the general population of Jamaica.
Black River is a warm , close-knit town that has always been full of life, love, and resilience. Today, that same town lies in ruins after Hurricane Melissa, and my heart breaks for my family, friends, and community still there.
I started this campaign because I cannot sit by and watch my loved ones and neighbors suffer. My goal is to raise funds to help provide food, water, personal hygiene, sleeping, cleaning and shelter supplies — not only for my family but for as many Black River residents as possible.
Personal Note:
Black River is more than where I’m from — it’s who I am. Every street, every neighbor, every memory is a part of me. Seeing my hometown devastated by Hurricane Melissa has been heartbreaking. My loved ones have lost homes, belongings, and a sense of security. This campaign is deeply personal, and with your help, we can bring relief, restore hope, and begin rebuilding together.
About This Campaign:
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica as an extremely powerful storm, leaving towns heavily damaged and many families without homes, food, power, or safe drinking water. This fundraiser will support immediate relief efforts in Black River and surrounding communities in St. Elizabeth Parish — areas that were directly hit and are in urgent need.
Why This Is Urgent
The humanitarian need is backed up by major international media. A recent CNN article, “Ravaged by Hurricane Melissa, this once-vibrant Jamaican town is now in desperate need of help,” reported that Black River has been all but destroyed — roofs ripped off homes, entire blocks swallowed by floodwaters, and supply chains broken. Local authorities described the scene as “unrecognizable,” with entire neighborhoods cut off and families struggling to find clean water and shelter.
Additional reports confirm large-scale infrastructural devastation across the region, with blocked roads, debris-choked streets, and widespread displacement. Many residents have lost everything and are depending on relief assistance to survive.
(See reference section below for full links.)
What Your Donation Will Do
Every dollar will go directly toward life-saving, immediate needs in Black River and surrounding St. Elizabeth communities:
Food & bottled water — Providing emergency meals and clean drinking water for families in need.
Temporary shelter supplies — Tarps, plywood, and blankets for those who lost their roofs or entire homes.
Local transport & logistics — Fuel and vehicles to reach isolated communities cut off by flooding and landslides.
Medical & hygiene kits — Soap, first aid supplies, and water purification tablets to prevent illness and infection.
Your contribution — no matter how small — will help bring relief and comfort to families struggling to survive in the aftermath of this disaster.
Call to Action
Please donate whatever you can and share this fundraiser with your family, friends, colleagues, and connections. Every dollar, every share, and every act of compassion helps rebuild the lives of those affected by Hurricane Melissa in Black River and beyond.
Together, we can help restore hope, dignity, and stability to the families who have lost so much.
References & Verified Sources
CNN: Ravaged by Hurricane Melissa, this once-vibrant Jamaican town is now in desperate need of help.
Reuters: Melissa dissipates, leaves destruction and at least 50 dead in Caribbean
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/melissa-dissipates-leaves-destruction-least-50-dead-caribbean-2025-10-31/
Associated Press: Despair spreads across historic seaport in Jamaica that Hurricane Melissa demolished
The Guardian: ‘The town is devastated’: the mayor picking up the pieces at Hurricane Melissa’s ‘ground zero’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/30/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-devastated-picking-up-the-pieces-ground-zero
Wikipedia: Hurricane Melissa
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