Hamilton groups band together to organize relief for Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

Following the destruction that Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, caused in Jamaica’s western region last week, groups in Hamilton are banding together to help. 

The Jamaica Foundation of Hamilton, the Afro-Canadian Caribbean Association and Hamilton Caribbean Women’s Group are working together to organize help for the island in an effort they’re calling Hamilton Loves Jamaica.

Charlton Hamilton, a Jamaican man who has been living in Hamilton for 50 years, said he’s never seen something like this happen in his homeland.

“I have been through one storm, one hurricane in my life. That was, I think, 1951, and if it [had been] anything like this, there would be no Jamaica,” he told CBC Hamilton.

Hamilton joined other community members to launch the campaign at City Hall on Tuesday.

Michelle Shivbarran, president of the Hamilton Caribbean Women's Group, said it’s important for organizations to work together in the way they are doing now.

“Sometimes when we do things in fragments, everybody's in their own silo, right? And you're thinking inside your little box, but then mine and yours combine to have more strength,” she said.

Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 28. The hurricane left up to 90 per cent of all structures in Black River, St. Elizabeth, without roofs as it snapped power lines and toppled concrete structures. 

Melissa has been blamed for at least 19 deaths in Jamaica.

The initiative is calling for monetary and item donations.

She said for women in particular, there’s a need for feminine hygiene products as well as child care products. 

“Women basically carry their families, right? So that worry, that burden of ‘how am I providing for my child tomorrow?’ is theirs. So anything that can relieve that burden from that woman would be what we're after today,” said Shivbarran.

The initiative is accepting donations at the ACCA Community Centre at 754 Barton St. E. Other items they’re looking for include:

Hamilton Loves Jamaica will also be hosting two fundraising events.