Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica on Oct. 28 as a category five, with winds up to 140 miles per hour and crawling across the island at two to three miles per hour. As of this writing, 67 people have died in the storm.
So many in our community have ties to Jamaica and the Caribbean, and local companies and houses of worship are organizing drives and fundraisers to help those who need it.
Priority Towing Boca, 1700 NW First Ave. in Boca Raton, is hosting a relief drive to send to Jamaica. This includes clothing, bedding, baby and toddler needs, rain gear, hygiene and personal care products, basic first aid items. They expect to collect supplies through the end of the month. For more information, call 561/368-4466.
B’Nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton collected enough supplies to fill a 20-foot shipping container to send to Jamaica, but congregants are still working to help those in need. Click here to see a list of approved supplies, a drop off location or an Amazon Wish List for items to be sent directly to Jamaica.
Hope Church of Christ, 2475 W. Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach is collecting water, generators, trash bags, canned and non-perishable food, batteries, sleeping bags, first aid kits, personal hygiene items, tarps, solar-powered lights and work gloves. You can also make a monetary donation here (scroll down to 2025 Jamaica Relief). The church’s south location in Miami Gardens is also collecting donations.
The Bay Coaching Facility, 2950 NW Commerce Park Drive #8 in Boynton Beach, is collecting non-perishable foods, hygiene kits, baby supplies, shelter supplies, medical supplies, gently used shoes and clothes, and other essentials. For more information, call 561/556-7393.
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County has launched its Hurricane Melissa Emergency Relief Fund, with 100% of donations going toward purchasing emergency essentials, cleanup efforts, and recovery support. Donations can be made here or checks can be mailed to:
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building
1 Harvard Circle, Suite 100
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Town of Palm Beach United Way is collecting monetary donations for relief efforts in Jamaica, Haiti and other Caribbean countries impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Donations can also be made over the phone or a check can be mailed with “Hurricane Melissa” in the memo:
Town of Palm Beach United Way
44 Cocoanut Row, Suite M201
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Free Spirit Outreach is hosting a number of collection drives with drop off at almost a dozen locations in Palm Beach County. Items include water purification tablets, protein items, nutrition bars and electrolyte packets, first aid kits, over-the-counter medication, hygiene products, sleeping bags, clothing and shoes, and more. You can see locations and a full list of items here.
Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Road in Coconut Creek, is accepting donations to help with rebuilding. This includes eco stoves, water, materials for house repairs, and mattresses. They’ll also be collecting hygiene items, adult and children’s diapers, tarps, blankets, water boots, children’s school and art supplies, and feminine hygiene products for women. Check out their Amazon wishlist.
Guy Harvey, a native of Jamaica, is donating all proceeds from its Big Up Jamaica T-shirt to Food for the Poor-Jamaica.
Jamaican Women of Florida is hosting a collection drive at Tucker Duke’s Lunchbox, 1101 S. Powerline Road #102 in Deerfield Beach. Some highly requested items: diapers, sanitary pads, tampons, ready-made baby formula, tarps, canned foods, flashlights, batteries, sleeping bags, water, hygiene kits, first-aid supplies and solar lights. Donations can also be made to donatetojwof.com.
Are we missing anything? Email christiana@bocamag.com
