Cash Relief for Hurricane Melissa Survivors

Hurricane Melissa was the first Category 5 to ever strike Jamaica, destroying 90% of homes in St. Elizabeth Parish and damaging over 100,000 acres of farmland nationwide.

So far, over 2,530 low-income people have received $650 each, no strings attached. The first payments were sent on November 11, just 2 weeks after the hurricane hit. 

You and over 1,400 other donors sent crucial funds to people like Theresa, Ivorie and Andy in St. Elizabeth Parish:

“I lived in a decent house, but then the storm came and blew off the roof. There was a lot of damage, my daughter was crying and screaming,” said Theresa, who has been sheltering with her stepdaughter after the hurricane.

“The day after, I prayed and cried. I lost the iron sheets for my roof, my water tank burst and so many things are gone. 

Oh God, I was so joyful when I got the money because I can go back home and buy some things to do a lot of repairs. I plan to fix my roof, buy a new water tank, and buy food. We also offered help to people who didn’t get to collect cash. When we get it, we share it.”

Ivorie once supported herself by selling shrimp, raising chickens, and running a juice business, but lost nearly everything to hurricanes. 

“Hurricane Beryl [in 2024] took away my chicken coop. After that, Melissa came and took away my shop. It destroyed the three fridges and all the juice. Everything is gone. I had just put my house back up in August and now, the whole roof is gone.

 I’m so happy for the $650. I bought back some chickens, juices, and an Igloo cooler. I’m grateful for it so I can get back on my feet and start life all over.”

“I was a fisherman and a farmer, but after the hurricane, everything came to an end. Where I farm and fish, everything was washed away,” said Andy.

“I thought the storm was going to break the window and everything would come to an end. I stopped eating for two to three days because I was traumatized. This was the worst hurricane I’ve ever been through.

When I got the money, it was a joy because I knew all the places I depended on to earn money were gone. My plan is to go back to farming. I know these donations won’t come forever so I have to get some pepper seeds, fertilizers and sprays and take my time to start over.” 

Thank you for your support and trust of families in need.

Best,

The GiveDirectly team