Michelle Ramundo

Rise Again Jamaica – Together we can help Jamaica Rebuild After Hurricane Melissa Who I Am: My name is Michelle, and though I now live in Delaware, USA, my heart will always belong to Jamaica. I am the founder of Rise Again Jamaica, a newly registered nonprofit organization created to help families rebuild after disasters like Hurricane Melissa. The organization is already registered, and I’m just waiting for the final documents to arrive. Why This Matters to Me: This mission is deeply personal to me. I grew up in Jamaica with my mother, Mama Claire, and my three sisters in a small one bedroom house. My mother ran a little cook shop serving hot meals to school children, taxi drivers, and neighbors passing by. Life was humble, but it was filled with love, hard work, and community. Then came Hurricane Gilbert. I will never forget the night the wind roared through our community and tore everything apart. Our one-bedroom home was completely destroyed. I can still see my mother trying to comfort us while rain poured through the roof and the walls shook around us. We lost everything. That experience never left me. It taught me what true loss feels like, but it also showed me the incredible strength of the Jamaican people. We cried, we cleaned up, and then we rebuilt. And today, after seeing what Hurricane Melissa has done to our island, I feel that same pain and determination all over again. Why I Started This Fund: I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. I started Rise Again Jamaica to give back to the same kind of families I grew up among hardworking people who need a helping hand to start over. How the Funds Will Be Used: Every donation will go directly to help those in Jamaica who have lost everything. Working closely with local churches, community volunteers, and trusted contacts on the ground, we will provide: Emergency shelter and home repair assistance Food, clean water, and cooking supplies Clothing, bedding, and hygiene items for children and families Medical and emergency care support Help for small local businesses trying to rebuild Every dollar you give will go toward bringing comfort, hope, and relief to those who need it most. Storing Donations: Part of the funds raised will be used to rent temporary warehouse space to safely store and organize donated items before shipping them to Jamaica. This helps us manage aid more effectively and reach more families faster. From My Heart to Yours: I believe in the strength of Jamaica and its people. We are fearless, we are strong, and no matter how many times life knocks us down, we rise again. Please join me in helping our brothers and sisters rebuild their homes, their lives, and their hope. Together, we can remind them that they are not alone. Jamaica will rise again one family at a time. With love and gratitude, Michelle Founder, Rise Again Jamaica