Weeks after Hurricane Melissa devastated the island of Jamaica, residents in Los Angeles are stepping up with fundraisers and community-driven relief efforts to support recovery back home.
In venues across the city, local groups are gathering donations—everything from hygiene kits to clothing and financial contributions—for trusted organizations that are working on the ground in Jamaica. Many of the events have been organized under the banner of the Jamaican diaspora living in Southern California, whose members feel a deep personal connection to the devastation that unfolded.
Among the efforts, Grammy-winning reggae artist Sean Paul has launched a national campaign in collaboration with Food for the Poor Jamaica, pledging to match donations up to US $50,000. The initiative has galvanized the community in L.A., where churches, cultural-centers and Caribbean-heritage groups are hosting drives and awareness events. The campaign encourages supporters to contribute via supportjamaica.gov.jm or foodforthepoorja.org/seanpaulfoundation.
For many here, it’s more than a charitable act—it’s personal. For example, individuals whose families hail from parishes like Westmoreland, Savanna-la-Mar or Little London are coordinating shipments of supplies, coordinating volunteer teams and planning supply flights. According to one report, a team from Los Angeles-based organizations flew in and distributed two weeks’ worth of relief supplies to approximately 500 families across multiple affected parishes in Jamaica.
Much of the Caribbean island remains in distress: roads remain blocked, hundreds of thousands are still without power, and vast debris fields hinder access and relief distribution. The diaspora’s efforts act as a bridge—mobilizing resources from California to support recovery and symbolizing solidarity across thousands of miles.
As one local organizer put it: “This isn’t just supporting another country. It’s supporting our community, our relatives, our friends. We want to show that we care, and we’re acting.”
