{"id":23435,"date":"2025-10-28T08:06:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T08:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/23435\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T08:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T08:06:10","slug":"south-florida-mobilizes-relief-efforts-for-jamaica-ahead-of-hurricane-melissa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/23435\/","title":{"rendered":"South Florida mobilizes relief efforts for Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Melissa"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Hurricane Melissa heads toward Jamaica as a Category 5 storm<\/a>, South Florida\u2019s Jamaican community is already organizing to help.<\/p>\n

Several non-profits and several local municipalities have launched donation drives, accepting monetary donations, food, water, toiletries and other items that organizers expect to be necessities in the aftermath of the storm. South Florida is home to the highest concentration of Jamaicans in Florida, which has the second-largest Jamaican population in the country after New York.<\/p>\n

Read more: \u2018I\u2019m going to lose everything\u2019: Jamaica farmers dread approach of Hurricane Melissa<\/a><\/p>\n

The cities of Miramar, Lauderhill and Homestead established drop-off locations to accept donations. Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), a Miami-based nonprofit, is also accepting donations and asking volunteers to pack boxes of supplies at its Doral location.<\/p>\n

Requested donations include non-perishable food, batteries, bug repellent, bottled water, flashlights, tarps, tents, diapers, first aid supplies, generators and hygienic items. (Donation drives may not accept used clothing.)<\/p>\n

Melissa, which rapidly grew in size over the weekend and is now the strongest storm to form this year<\/a>, is expected to make landfall on the southern coast of Jamaica Tuesday morning and pass through the middle of the island before heading north toward Cuba. The hurricane has already killed three people in Haiti and one person in the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis hurricane is of unparalleled proportions to Jamaica,\u201d said Wendy Hart, the president of American Friends of Jamaica,<\/a> a charitable organization.<\/p>\n

Though Jamaica hasn\u2019t been directly hit by a hurricane since Sandy in 2012, last year\u2019s Hurricane Beryl caused significant damage and fatalities as it passed just south of the island. Parts of the country are still recovering from Beryl, raising serious concerns over Jamaica\u2019s infrastructure. Hart encouraged those who want to help relief efforts to donate what they can ahead of landfall.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor most disaster relief agencies, the best thing that people can do is donate what they are able to, whether that\u2019s $10 or $500 or $10,000,\u201d Hart said. \u201cThe impact and the needs will be clarified over time, and we need to get the supplies and resources to where it\u2019s most needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

South Florida Caribbean Strong and the Caribbean Bar Association are also working with GEM to collect donations, pack boxes and raise awareness. Marlon Hill, the lead volunteer mobilizer of South Florida Caribbean Strong, said he is concerned that Melissa is threatening Jamaica\u2019s food sources. He traveled to Jamaica earlier this year and said many houses are still covered in tarps from Beryl.<\/p>\n

Hill said South Florida Caribbean Strong will be at GEM\u2019s warehouse all week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sort and pack boxes. \u201cYou don\u2019t need an invitation to be there,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone is welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gabrielle Thomas, the president-elect of the Caribbean Bar Association, said Jamaicans in South Florida see themselves as extended family members of Jamaicans in their home country.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody in Jamaica is praying, hoping we come out of this strong, but it\u2019s really concerning if infrastructure cant withstand this,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cJamaicans are resilient. Caribbeans are resilient. I know that we will help each other at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to help:American Friends of Jamaica<\/p>\n

This nonprofit organization works closely with several relief agencies. The group collecting monetary donations online. Click here to donate.<\/a><\/p>\n

Americares Hurricane Fund<\/p>\n

Americares is a global health and disaster relief organization preparing to send an emergency response team to the region. Click here to donate.<\/a><\/p>\n

Doral Hurricane Relief Drive at GEM<\/p>\n

GEM is partnering with the Miami Foundation, South Florida Caribbean Strong and the Caribbean Bar Association to collect, sort and pack donations to be distributed in Jamaica.<\/p>\n

GEM is requesting volunteers to help pack supplies in at its Doral warehouse at 1850 NW 84th Avenue #100<\/a> in the coming days. Click here to sign up for a day and time to volunteer.<\/a><\/p>\n

South Florida Caribbean Strong and the Caribbean Bar Association are inviting volunteers to help pack boxes<\/a> of supplies at GEM\u2019s warehouse on Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click here to register to volunteer.<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to donate money to the U.S. Caribbean Strong Relief Fund online.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to purchase hurricane relief items from South Florida Caribbean Strong\u2019s Amazon wishlist.<\/p>\n

Food For The Poor<\/p>\n

This nonprofit is accepting monetary donations to provide relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Click here to donate.<\/a><\/p>\n

Homestead Donation Drive<\/p>\n

The City of Homestead is partnering with GEM to collect donations at three drop-off locations starting Tuesday. Collection hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

Drop-off locations:<\/p>\n

City Hall \u2014 100 Civic Court, Homestead<\/p>\n

Homestead Police Department \u2014 45 NW First Avenue, Homestead<\/p>\n

Pichol Williams Community Center \u2014 951 SW 4th Street, Homestead (This location also collects donations Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)<\/p>\n

Lauderhill Donation Drive<\/p>\n

The City of Lauderhill launched a city-wide donation drive with several drop-off locations. Park hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Drop-off locations:<\/p>\n

Lauderhill City Hall \u2014 5581 W. Oakland Park Blvd.<\/p>\n

Veterans Park \u2014 7600 NW 50th Street<\/p>\n

John Mullins Park \u2014 2000 NW 55th Avenue<\/p>\n

Westwind Park \u2014 4550 NW 82nd Avenue<\/p>\n

Lauderhill Historical Museum \u2014 1080 NW 47th Avenue<\/p>\n

St. George Park \u2014 3501 NW 8th St, Lauderhill, FL 33311<\/p>\n

Joy\u2019s Roti Delight \u2014 1205 NW 40th Avenue (This location also accepts donations Saturday and Sunday.)<\/p>\n

Miramar Donation Drive<\/p>\n

The City of Miramar is accepting donations 24\/7 at the following locations:<\/p>\n

Fire Station 19 \u2013 6700 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023<\/p>\n

Fire Station 70 \u2013 9001 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33025<\/p>\n

Fire Station 84 \u2013 14801 SW 27th Street, Miramar, FL 33027<\/p>\n

Fire Station 100 \u2013 2800 SW 184th Avenue, Miramar, FL 33029<\/p>\n

Fire Station 107 \u2013 11811 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023<\/p>\n

Miramar Police Headquarters \u2013 11765 City Hall Promenade, Miramar, FL 33025<\/p>\n