Peace region residents step up to organize multiple Hurricane Melissa humanitarian efforts

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — It was a whole change of pace for Annette Campbell when she came to Fort St. John from the island of Jamaica back in 2008.

Now, she’s hopeful the sense of community in the region will see people come together to give generously to fundraisers for her motherland in the wake of the most catastrophic storm to hit the island in more than a century.

“When I came here, there was nothing [Jamaican] here,” said Campbell in an interview with Energeticcity.ca. “You couldn’t get nothing [that was] Caribbean. Not even a package of seasoning.”

Although she admits “still walking around in her hoodie and toque” indoors during the year, Campbell adapted to and embraced life in the community and currently works with School District 60. 

Campbell has also contributed to the Taste of Fort St. John food festival and Canada Day festivities in the city.

Donations are being sought by several individuals throughout the region in response to Hurricane Melissa.

The storm dropped heavy rains and wind gusts reaching 240 kilometres per hour when it made landfall on the island on Tuesday, October 28th. 

It also affected Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands before making its way northeast in the Atlantic Ocean.

Categorized as a level five hurricane, it left a devastating impact, with the Jamaica Information Service estimating 13,000 on the island of 2.9 million are still in emergency shelters.

Additionally, a Jamaican government website says 28 people are dead as a result of the hurricane. 

Campbell’s relatives are located in the parishes of Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth, including severely affected areas such as Savanna La Mar, Black River and Montego Bay.

“I’ve got word from [my family],” said Campbell. “[They are] staying with other people, some in shelters. My grandkids are staying with neighbours [and] others in separate homes, because people don’t have a place for everybody. 

“They can’t find water to shower. [There’s] no food, because the grocery stores are all washed out. The government is doing what they’re doing and putting food there. But they can’t reach everybody.”

Campbell has reached out to local organizations such as the Fort St. John Multicultural Society for donations of clothing and non-perishable foods to send to Jamaica. 

Others around the region are also doing what they can to help affected residents on the island, including Corene Green and her husband Dwayne Green. 

Dwayne’s family is located in the Trelawny parish in northwest Jamaica, east of Montego Bay. 

Dwayne’s family are still physically okay, although he didn’t have contact with his parents for a week due to a lack of phone service.

Although he is Jamaican, Corene is not. An Indigenous woman, Corene is part of the Blueberry River First Nations, and has been to the island “many times.”

The couple has organized a bottle drive to local First Nations this week, including Doig River First Nation, Blueberry River First Nations and Halfway River First Nation. 

They have also reached out to Campbell about organizing a larger fundraiser with the Fort St. John Jamaican community.

“We wanted to step in and truly help our family in a time of need and help the community where my husband is from,” said Corene. “They are really hard-working people that come from Jamaica [and they] truly work hard, for everything that they have.

“We’re also focusing on non-perishable foods, baby products, feminine products, toiletries, all the day-to-day needs that we have. We are so blessed that we can walk to a store right now. They don’t have anything.”

Danelle Boyd, executive director of the Fort St. John Literacy Society, is also native to Jamaica and, although her family did not lose their home, there hasn’t been electricity in a week.

“There are persons around them in their areas that have been severely impacted,” said Boyd. “Outside of that, I do have friends where my family are. They don’t have anywhere to live, they don’t have food, they don’t have clothes. A few of my friends have charities or charity options for which they have been able to raise some funds.”

Boyd wanted to send supplies such as toiletries and food back to loved ones, but is looking for alternative options due to shipping costs.

Additionally, a Dawson Creek woman is turning to her community, organizing a crowdsourcing campaign to help her community back in Jamaica through GoFundMe.

Nicola Allen-Morris grew up in Brompton, a small community in the parish of St. Elizabeth. She is hoping to raise $30,000 with her campaign.

She says both her parents’ houses and the houses of several community members were blown away due to the massive storm.

Allen-Morris moved to Dawson Creek in 2024, and is working in social services in the community. She says co-workers have rallied around her efforts.

“Our community is small and tight-knit,” explained Allen-Morris. “I was raised in the church, and I have always been a part of community events that cater to the needs of community members who are in need.

“We have a lot of people who are not economically well off, who are homeless. That is the reason why I was so moved to do this fundraiser. I saw the need, and there’s a great need, not only for my family but in general.”

Anyone who is looking to contribute to these fundraisers may contact each organizer: Campbell by phone at 250-271-1222 or email at campannet321@yahoo.ca; Boyd at 250-219-4289; and Corene at 250-793-4176.

People can also visit Food for the Poor, a humanitarian organization spearheading drives for supplies, at its website.