RELIEF + RENEWAL FOR JAMAICA
AFTER HURRICANE MELISSA
EVERY MIKKLE, MEK A MUKKLE
On October 28th 2025, Hurricane Melissa roared across Jamaica with unimaginable wind speeds of 185mph. At the end of hurricane season, when the seas should have been cool, the unnaturally warm Caribbean Sea powered Melissa into a 200-mile wide Category 5 hurricane - one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record since recording started over 100 years ago. It battered our 146 mile-wide island with devastating flooding, landslides, flattening buildings and damaging infrastructure in over 70% of the country. The amount of work it will take to return Jamaica to the paradise many of you remember and cherish will take every kind of assistance we can get.
NB. All photos are screenshots from each fundraiser page or site. Instagram feeds are also provided for most up-to-date reports on the ground. Background image here by me from White House, Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica.
Please keep sharing. This space will be updated as efforts on the ground continue.
Dear friends, family, colleagues, humans,
Thanks to everyone who has reached out to me looking for ways to help. It is truly humbling and is a reminder that humanity can still win in this world. As it can be confusing to navigate and validate the number of donation appeals, I have spent some time researching and personally verifying every source shared below, with in-person volunteering on the ground, direct calls, and messages in my Jamaican communities with people I know personally. I’ve provided source information non-government, 501c3s, and specific individuals for you to choose the best way for you to donate. This felt like the most efficient, soft, and least overwhelming way to provide you with options for giving.
With the state of the world, everywhere, I know empathy + donation-fatigue is really intense right now. I feel it.
In Jamaica we have a couple of sayings “every mikkle, mek a mukkle” - and - “one-one cocoa fill basket”. We embrace the idea that no offering is too small, and we are grateful for whatever is manageable to give because it truly all helps.
Jamaica is my homeland, a small rock with a big heart and even bigger spirit, known the world over for her beauty, culture, music, and joy she gives, and I love her so. It will take a long time but I know we will build back again. I recently returned home to the rock and will share my witnessing soon.
Thank you from every corner of my heart,
Berette 🩵
HUMANS to fund
Each person, org, or fundraiser listed offers verification notes, types of aid needed, locations for aid distribution, donation links, and instagram profiles for you to see directly all the work that is happening on the ground. The island of Jamaica is divided into 14 municipal parishes. The parishes west of Kingston (capital) were hardest hit, including Black River, Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth; Montego Bay, St. James; Maroon Town, Trelawny; Savanna-La-Mar, White House and surrounding small communities, Westmoreland. Schools, hospitals, churches, shops, service buildings, and almost 200,000 homes have been flattened, and water, electricity, and cell tower infrastructure is damaged, leaving many towns and communities stranded, still, as of November 26th.
Listings below purposely include names of small towns and the parishes where they are located. St. Elizabeth, the breadbasket parish of our island was hit VERY badly, affecting our agricultural lands, animals and food sources. Our tree lines are swept away, leaving our lush green island looking like a deserted savannah. The birds and the bees are also hungry as nectar is also scarce. But hearts are strong, and believing in each other to make it through. Explore all inspiring recovery actions below and especially on instagram if you can.
Jeffett Strachen (aka Georgie) via Ania Freer, Jamaican Artist + Documentary Filmmaker
FUNDS + GOODS for DISTRIB. + RECOVERY
Roaring River, WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA
Treasure Beach, ST ELIZABETH, JAMAICA
Verified by B. Macaulay through Ania, who is helping specific communities she’s in relationship with in Treasure Beach on the South Coast.
Georgie, who is featured above, is one the people she has worked with.
”Georgie is an artist who carves beautiful sculptures from lignum vitae wood. He recently had his foot amputated and needs support with both rebuilding and medical expenses.”
Ania was an artist juror for our Black Cinema Collective Microgrant.
Cosmo Whyte, Jamaican Visual Artist + family
FUNDS + GOODS for HOME RECOVERY
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
Vetted by B. Macaulay who knows Cosmo, and his uncle - a family friend for her entire life. He is helping his family recover + rebuild. Cosmo is a brilliant artist and human.
”The hurricane tore through portions of our roof, shattered windows and doors, and left several rooms flooded. What remains is the immense task of rebuilding — not only restoring walls and wood, but also reclaiming a sense of safety, stability, and belonging.”
Don Roy Graham, farmer via Janice P
IG @suchnsuchhomesteadja
(can also be found on TikTok)
FUNDS + GOODS for DISTRIB. + RECOVERY
TRELAWNY, WESTMORELAND, and multiple surrounding small towns and communities
Vetted directly by B. Macaulay. First learned about Don-Roy via a viral and impassioned Instagram post of him sharing stories about people in need in his community. He lost his farm, many animals, his home, and family members. He currently sleeps in a tent. But driven to help, he has been canvassing communities by car, foot, and bike, and using posts to amplify individual and family needs. During my 3-weeks volunteering in Jamaica I met him and have been in touch since. He is an incredible humanitarian, who needs support so he can continue to serve others - but also to recover himself.
Henry LeRoy via Kimberly Kae of Metal House Cider
FUNDS + GOODS for DISTRIB. + RECOVERY
TRELAWNY, WESTMORELAND, and multiple surrounding small towns and communities
Vetted by B. Macaulay who knows Kimberly Kae, and of her decade long relationship with Henry.
”Beloved Henry Leroy finally retired home to Jamaica in early October only to have the storm rip the roof clean from his house…we are trying to raise the 20,000 to replace his roof.”
Stacey Ann Chin, Jamaican Poet, Activist
FUNDS + GOODS for DISTRIB. + RECOVERY, Point Hill, ST. CATHERINE, JAMAICA
Kindred Community Homestead - a farm for artists, activists, and freedom lovers" run by known Jamaican Poet/Artist
verified by B. Macaulay in community
Adrian McDonald via Caroline Buckley
IG @lexonart
FUNDS + GOODS for DISTRIB. + REBUILD + RECOVERY
Petersfield, WESTMORELAND Parish
Incredible photographer and documentarian in Jamaica. An early responder in the aftermath, he has been assisting communities with emergency relief, and is helping his family and community to recover in Petersfield, Westmoreland.
Working along with Donisha Prendergast and the Humanity Ova Vanity org team.
Donisha Prendagast (Bob Marley granddaughter)
FUNDS + GOODS for DISTRIB. + RECOVERY | BASE SHELTER ASSISTANCE in Petersfield, WESTMORELAND, and multiple surrounding small towns and communities
Long established community organizer who hit the ground running immediately after the hurricane. Vetted by B.Macaulay via community, volunteering with and witnessing the work directly on the ground in Petersfield, Westmoreland, Nov 2025. Many active updates of their work via her instagram posts.
Donisha’s org HoV: https://www.humanityovavanity.org
Partners for the People
Donisha Prendergast and artist Adrian McDonald are working with Maroon communities in the Trelawny Parish, bikers in Petersfield, Westmoreland, and several trusted orgs on the ground.
WATER EMERGENCY RELIEF/PURIFICATION SYSTEMS, POWER BANKS + COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGENCY AID, GOODS for DISTRIB. - ISLAND WIDE
Learn more below and see how emergency relief and long term recovery is being addressed:
Partner orgs include:
Planet Water Org - IG @planetwaterorg
Isratech Jamaica Ltd - IG @isratech
WalkGood LA - IG @walkgoodla
Streets of JA - IG @streetsofjamaica
Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) - IG @globalempowermentmission
Bob & Rita Marley Foundation - IG @bobmarleyfoundation
___
Jamaica Drop Off requests have been held at True Self Center (IG @TrueSelfCenter) and Itopia Life (IG @Itopialife ) in Kingston for distribution across the country. Follow them on IG for notices or updates.
Trusted ORGS on the ground
501c3 - tax deductible | EIN numbers available on their websites and fundraisers
Food For the Poor/ Sean Paul Foundation
ISLAND WIDE AID
FUNDS for EMERGENCY AID, GOODS for DISTRIB efforts
VIEW CNN INTERVIEW on IG
or
Verified by B.Macaulay who knows SP + Steve Wilson, his manager, and also went out on an aid distribution journey with the team while in Jamaica.
Vetted by B. Macaulay while on the ground, and via every encounter with community members they have served in Jamaica.
American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ)
ISLAND WIDE AID
FUNDS for EMERGENCY AID, GOODS for DISTRIB REBUILDING + RECOVERY efforts
$2 Million Dollar Matching Funds
Participates in US Employer, Corporate, and personal matching of donation funds
Org also hosts platform for local fundraisers for JA
Verified by B.Macaulay, via several friends and colleagues who have worked with the organization.
UPDATE - Tariff fees waiver EXTENDED until Dec 31st 2025 for shipping items to Jamaica!
|
UPDATE - Tariff fees waiver EXTENDED until Dec 31st 2025 for shipping items to Jamaica! |
WEST COAST LOCATIONS for
DROP OFF DONATIONS + FUNDRAISERS
SEATTLE | Items shipped in barrels and on palettes from Seattle to Kingston, Jamaica
Taste of the Caribbean (link)
1212 E Jefferson Street 5-9pm
you can stop by with in kind items (please see list below)
Dwayne Blake (owner) | Tel: 206 323 9112
Vetted by B.Macaulay who has worked with the restaurant
___
Friends of Jamaica Seattle (link), Founded 1996
6333 Seward Pk. Ave. South,Seattle, WA 98118
Ray Connell (Co-Founder)
Jamaican Honorary Consulate Seattle | Tel: 206 694 3632
Reporting to Jamaican Ambassador + Embassy in Washington D.C
Oystain Sinclair (President) | Tel: 206 250 1860
friendsofjamaica.seattle@gmail.com
NOVEMBER 20the Fundraiser Drive coming up
Vetted by B.Macaulay via Dwayne Blake
***BOTH orgs are partnered in relief efforts
COLLECTING SUPPLIES:
Toiletries, Non-perishables, Vitamins, Clothes, Emergency Kits, Water Purification Tablets, Baby Items, Feminine Hygiene Products, mini Solar Power Banks (with multiple ports/chords) Portable Solar Panels (with multiple ports/chords), Tents, Starlink minis for communication, Building Supplies (hand tools) ****Heavy Duty Tarpaulin
Due to overwhelming response, please call before dropping off supplies!
Exp date for perishable items up to 2027 please!
UPDATE - Tariff fees waiver EXTENDED until Dec 31st 2025 for shipping items to Jamaica!
|
UPDATE - Tariff fees waiver EXTENDED until Dec 31st 2025 for shipping items to Jamaica! |
EAST COAST Locations - Soon come! | New York to Kingston shipments
GOVERNMENT RELIEF INFORMATION
Note for all donation drives or anyone traveling into Jamaica with relief supplies, the Jamaican government has EXTENDED the Tariff fees waiver until Dec 31st 2025!
JAMAICA CUSTOMS AGENCY
Facilitating Distaster Relief Imports via Jamaica Information Services (JIS) with items listed for duty free shipping to KINGSTON Norman Manley International Airport and Kingston Wharf
FUNDS for AID, GOODS for DISTRIB - ISLAND WIDE
