Cash Relief for Hurricane Melissa Survivors in Jamaica
Dec. 19 update: We’ve sent cash to 2,530+ people in the poorest & hardest-hit area of St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica via Western Union. Give now and your donation will be delivered ASAP.
馃帣锔� Listen to the of the 黑料福利社 podcast to hear how we’ve been delivering your donations for this response.
You can send funds directly to Jamaicans impacted by the devastating hurricane
On October 28, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica 鈥� the country鈥檚 first hurricane in over a decade and the first Category 5 to ever strike the island. It has been described as for Jamaica.
500,000 people were initially left without power, with thousands more displaced from their homes. Southwest Jamaica, the country鈥檚 breadbasket, has been devastated by flooding, and in St. Elizabeth, an estimated of homes have been destroyed.
We are delivering $650 each to families in the hardest-hit areas. This emergency cash will help cover their needs for two months, such as:
- 馃崨 Essential supplies like food, water, medicine, generators, and diapers
- 馃彣 Shelter and hotel stays while evacuated
- 馃挸 Bills for their phone, healthcare, and utilities
Your donations will reach those in greatest need quickly and remotely
We are targeting five communities in St. Elizabeth Parish in Jamaica, selected based on poverty rates, storm damage, and low levels of existing humanitarian aid.
Receiving money 鈥� without strings attached 鈥� supports families鈥� short term survival and long term recovery. Cash aid is fast and fully remote, letting families meet essential needs quickly and reaching them via digital transfers that don鈥檛 tax fragile supply chains or clog transit routes. Whether families need emergency supplies, shelter, or anything else, they can buy what they need.
黑料福利社 has previously sent emergency cash to survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, LA wildfires, Kenya floods, and many other disasters.
Help us reach more people like Ivorie from St. Elizabeth Parish:
This cash will help thousands of families meet their own urgent needs and rebuild their lives
Cash aid allows hurricane survivors in western Jamaica to meet their own needs rather than having others guess for them 鈥� which is why people impacted by a crisis say they cash relief over donated goods.
Achieving our current fundraising goal will enable us to reach hundreds of families in greatest need. We have the capacity to deliver much more 鈥� help provide urgent relief and reach thousands of additional people impacted by the Jamaica hurricane.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive money?
We use damage and poverty data to identify the highest-need communities in western Jamaica, and then enroll and pay impacted families. We are currently delivering donations to five communities in St. Elizabeth Parish in Jamaica: Middle Quarters, Whitehall, New Market, Giddy Hall, and Brighton. This was determined based on high poverty rates before the hurricane, high levels of storm damage, and low levels of existing humanitarian aid.
What if we raise more or less than the fundraising goal?
Any excess funds will help us deliver cash to more impacted families. If for any reason we are unable to deliver all funds to Hurricane Melissa survivors, donations will be delivered to survivors of the next emergency.
How much will each family receive?
Each family will receive $650 (104,000 JMD) via Western Union transfer. This amount is designed to cover the cost of common post-disaster recovery items and needs.
When will people receive my donation?
We have identified communities in greatest need and are beginning our enrollment process. We will continue to update this page as more details are confirmed. In our past responses, we鈥檝e delivered cash 2-3 weeks after the disaster.
Where will my donation be delivered?
We are currently delivering donations to five communities in St. Elizabeth Parish in Jamaica most impacted by Hurricane Melissa: Middle Quarters, Whitehall, New Market, Giddy Hall, and Brighton. We are assessing the impact of the hurricane in Haiti and other Caribbean countries to determine whether to expand our response to include those places.
What is 黑料福利社?
We鈥檙e a nonprofit that lets you send money directly to the world鈥檚 poorest, no strings attached. In the last decade, we鈥檝e delivered cash to over 1.6 million people across 15 countries and research the it can have for families in need.
What if I鈥檇 like to make a major gift?
We鈥檇 love to hear from you! Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States. We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more.
If you鈥檙e giving outside the U.S., you can still give to this campaign but your gift may not be tax-deductible.
Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org with any questions or for more information on ways to give.