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Who we are
My name is Mellesia Lewis. I am a native of Westmoreland, Jamaica. I am organizing this fundraiser on behalf of families and friends in Westmoreland, Jamaica who have been impacted by hurricane Melissa.
Our communities were directly in the path of Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 storm that made landfall in Jamaica with catastrophic winds and flooding, destroying homes, crops, and critical infrastructure across the island on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
We are raising funds to rebuild, repair and restore dignity for families and communities we personally know and can reach on the ground.
What happened
On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica as one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbean. Whole communities were left with no roofs, no power, and flooded homes. Tens of thousands of homes and structures were damaged or destroyed, with many families still living in shelters or in unsafe buildings.
In our area, families are:
- Sleeping under tarpaulins or in half-roofed houses
- Using candles and searching for places to charge phones because there is no electricity
- Sharing food, water and clothes with neighbours who lost everything
Government and NGO relief is coming, but it is not enough and not fast enough for many of the families we know personally.
We are focusing on specific families and one local church so we can be transparent and targeted in how we use every dollar.
Who we are helping
Below are some of the households we’re supporting:
1. The Sortie Family – Farm Pen, Westmoreland
Family of 4 (3 adults, 1 child)
Damage: Entire board house, appliances and furniture damaged including school books
Priority needs: Rebuild board house and labour, beds/mattresses, school supplies, food support
2. The Spence Family (widow and foster child + grandchildren) – Farm Pen, Westmoreland
Family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children)
Damage: Roof and structural damage to board house including destroyed furniture including school supplies
Priority needs: Rebuild board house and labour, beds/mattresses, school supplies, food support
3. Ms. Scott, an Elderly 74 year old widow, Farm Pen District, Westmoreland
Damage: Severe roof damage, waterlogged furniture, no power
Priority needs: Re-roof rebuild, basic furniture, solar power bank for phone/light, food package
4. Mr. A. Dixon, Elderly Man 70+ years old, Strathbogie, Westmoreland
Damage: Roof completely damaged and loss of furniture, clothing and mattresses
Priority needs: Contribution toward reconstruction, clothing, furniture and food package.
5. Mr. & Mrs. Grant, Elderly couple, Deans Valley, Westmoreland
Damage: Roof completely damaged and loss of furniture, clothing and mattresses
Priority needs: Reconstruction of roof plus clothing, furniture and food package.
6. My Mom’s Church – Christ Gospel Church, Georges Plain, Westmoreland
This is my mom’s church. As you can see from the photos, the building has been completely flattened. The roof ripped away, walls collapsed, and the sanctuary reduced to scattered boards, doors and church benches in the open field.
For years this church has been more than a Sunday building. It is:
- A spiritual home for families in the community
- A place where children and youth meet for Sunday School
Damage:
- Structure almost entirely destroyed (roof, walls, doors, windows)
- Interior items lost or badly damaged: benches, sound system, fans, pulpit, chairs
- No safe space for worship, counselling or community meetings
Priority needs:
Temporary worship space
- Rental of a tent/marquee or use of a simple temporary structure
- Plastic chairs, basic sound system (microphone + small speaker)
Rebuilding the church
- Structural assessment and plans
- Materials: blocks, steel, roofing zinc, lumber, doors, windows
- Labour for foundation repairs and construction
Fans and basic electrical work (once power is safely restored)
Estimated support needed:
We are still collecting quotes from local builders and suppliers, but initial estimates suggest we will need US$1,500–US$6,000 to create a safe temporary worship space and begin rebuilding the permanent structure.
7. Mr. & Mrs. Miller and Family, Strathbogie, Westmoreland.
Damage: Board house completely destroyed
Priority Needs: Rebuild board house, replace damaged furniture, food and water plus school supplies for children
How the “Adopt a Family” support works:
We’re inviting you to adopt a family by sponsoring their priority needs.
Here’s how we’re organizing it:
1. We list families and needs
- Roof repair (estimated cost range)
- Essential items (beds, clothing)
- Power solutions (solar power banks, small generator, lights)
2. You choose how to help
- Donate to the general fund or
- Comment or message: “I’d like to adopt Family #2 – Ms Spence” for example
- If you’re adopting, we will earmark a portion of funds to that family’s needs first.
3. We allocate and track funds
- We collect all donations via GoFundMe, then purchase materials and items locally or transfer funds directly for verified expenses.
- Where possible, we pay suppliers/contractors directly to ensure the money goes to rebuilding.
4. We report back
We will post regular updates with:
- Before/after photos (with families’ permission)
- Short notes on what has been purchased or repaired
- A simple breakdown of how funds were used
We understand that trust is everything in a situation like this. We are committed to radical transparency about where every dollar goes.
How we will use the funds
We will prioritize in this order:
Roof repairs & safe shelter
- Roofing zinc and lumber
- Labour for carpenters/builders
- Tarpaulins and waterproofing while waiting on full repairs
Basic household essentials
- Beds and mattresses
- Basic furniture (wardrobes, dressers, tables & chairs, work/computer desks for school-aged children, where possible)
- School supplies and clothing for children
Power and connectivity
- Solar power banks for phones and lighting
- Small generators (individual or shared for a cluster of homes)
- Extension cords, surge protectors, basic wiring support
Community support (if funds allow)
- Tools and supplies for a small community rebuilding groups
- Supporting the rebuilding of Christ Gospel Apostolic Church, which serves as a spiritual hub for local families.
We are also mindful that prices can change quickly after a disaster. If costs shift, we will update the budget and explain clearly in an update.
Transparency & accountability
To keep donors informed and confident:
- We will publish short updates at least once per week until funds are fully allocated.
- We will share: a. Photos and short stories (with consent) and b. A simple summary of spending (e.g. “Week 1: JMD $1,500,000 on roofing materials for 3 homes”)
- If extra funds remain after the listed families are supported, we will: a. Extend help to additional families using the same criteria (roof/shelter first) and b. Communicate any change clearly before using the funds.
Message to Donors
Jamaica and the wider Caribbean are used to storms, but Hurricane Melissa was different. It tore away not just roofs and walls, but a sense of safety for thousands of families. For our loved ones, the difference between a tarp and a real roof, a candle and a solar light, is the difference between barely surviving and beginning to rebuild.
If you are part of the Jamaican or Caribbean diaspora, or simply someone who cares, we are asking you to stand with us.
Adopt a family, share this page, pray for us, and help these families move from devastation to rebuilding.
Thank you for any support you can give. No amount is too small.
Organizer
