Jamaica Strong event raises funds for hurricane relief efforts

A fundraiser this weekend helped raise money to help people impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.

A fundraiser was held to help friends and family in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa’s landfall.

On Saturday, the honorary consul of Jamaica in Winnipeg and the Jamaican Association of Manitoba hosted Jamaica Strong — a fundraising event to support recovery and rebuilding efforts in Jamaica. Other organizations, including the Caribbean Council of Manitoba, Black History Manitoba and the Afro-Caribbean Association of Manitoba, also attended.

The event featured live performances such as dance performances and Caribbean cuisine.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica in late October. Landslides, fallen trees and power outages were reported after the hurricane hit the island nation with winds of 295 km/h.

Nadia Thompson, chairperson of Black History Manitoba, said the Jamaican community is growing in Winnipeg.

“We want to make sure that we’re able to do whatever we can to help those in need right now,” Thompson said Saturday.

“The more that we talk to our friends and neighbours and other people in Jamaica, we realize that some of the coast has been heavily affected and some has not — so those people are reaching out to the other side and making sure that their friends and family get the help that they need.”

Thompson said some locations in Jamaica “still don’t have internet or are having access problems to food and water.”

“At this time, yes, we’re doing monetary donations only so that we can provide that to the government of Jamaica … because of shipping issues right now, we’re only able to do monetary.”

Thompson added that donations can still be made at the Jamaican Association of Manitoba’s website.

With files from the Associated Press