As Jamaica and the Caribbean begin to rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, the call for urgent financial support grows louder. Caribbean Strong, a volunteer-led network of Caribbean nationals in South Florida, has launched the Hurricane Melissa $1 Million Disaster Relief Challenge — a regional fundraising drive to help sustain relief efforts already underway.
The campaign’s goal is simple yet ambitious: 10,000 people each donating $100 by the end of November. Every contribution goes directly toward keeping food, clean water, and shelter flowing to families hardest hit by the storm.
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Why Cash Is the Most Urgent Need
Relief organisers have already accomplished a great deal, but the demand continues to outpace resources. Since the hurricane, Caribbean Strong and its partners have mobilised significant support:
- Over US $1.4 million worth of essential supplies donated through their curated Amazon Wishlist — including food, hygiene items, and emergency kits.
- Six cargo planes and twenty containers shipped to Jamaica, with two more containers bound for Haiti.
- Hundreds of volunteers across the diaspora helping with sorting, packaging, and coordination.
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Yet despite this extraordinary effort, cash donations remain critically low. To date, the campaign has raised roughly US $62,000 from around 300 donors, a fraction of what’s needed to maintain relief operations and reach the thousands of families still in urgent need.
“Supplies are essential, but money is what keeps the relief pipeline open,” said Michael Capponi, CEO and President of Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), which partners with Caribbean Strong to manage logistics and distribution. “We’ve raised over a million dollars’ worth of goods, but to sustain deliveries and respond to new emergencies, we must reach our US $1 million cash target.”
Trusted Partners, Transparent Giving
All donations are processed through the US Caribbean Strong Relief Fund at The Miami Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation. Funds are distributed directly to support relief and recovery projects managed by GEM across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
This structure ensures transparency, accountability, and impact with every dollar traceable from donor to delivery. Donations made through the official GoFundMe or directly to The Miami Foundation are tax-deductible in the United States.
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Every Dollar Makes a Difference
To date, the Caribbean Strong network has channelled millions in aid and mobilised hundreds of volunteers, but the gap in cash donations threatens to slow their life-saving work. In this way the $1 Million Challenge is more than a fundraising campaign — it’s a call for unity, resilience, and compassion from Caribbean people everywhere.
“The storm is over, but the crisis is not,” the organisers said. “We can prevent a humanitarian disaster if everyone plays a part — even $10 helps, but $100 from 10,000 people will help rebuild entire communities.”
Your donation today ensures that relief continues tomorrow. Let’s show the world what it means to be truly Caribbean Strong.
“One people. One mission. Caribbean Strong.”
