Hurricane Relief Donations
How to Donate to Jamaicans Affected by the Storm
Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, leaving most of the island without power, water, or phone service. Thousands of Jamaicans need support — whether it’s funds to buy food, gas for generators, or supplies to rebuild.
If you want to help, here are several ways you can provide direct relief to those affected.
Send Funds Directly
1. Send Through Rooted in Yard
I'm currently in Jamaica with generator power and can receive funds from Canadian, US, and potentially other donors to distribute to those in need.
How it works:
- Email me at hello@rootedinyard.com OR contact me on Whatsapp at 876 419 4476
- Let me know:
- What the funds are for (e.g. generator gas, rebuilding supplies, food, specific person/family)
- What country you're sending from (so I know the best way to receive)
- I'll distribute the funds once I can get to an ATM or directly to the person/cause you specify. I plan to take pictures of what I distribute.
Note: So far, people have sent funds to help me continue running my generator (I'm currently charging devices for anyone in the area who needs it), but I'm happy to distribute funds for other purposes too. Just let me know!
2. (For Canadians) Global Money Transfer
If you bank with one of the major banks or have a Simplii Financial account, you can send money directly to a Jamaican bank account and they'll usually receive it the same day (often within minutes).
How it works:
- Ask the person you want to help for their Jamaican bank account details OR bank card number (visa debit cards work especially well)
- Use the Global Money Transfer feature (it may be called something slightly different depending on the bank)
- Funds arrive same day if sent to a visa debit (it'll take a few days if sent directly to an account)
Why this works: Fast, direct, and no need for the recipient to find a vendor vendor that may or may not be open (such as Western Union) to receive it.
3. Scotiabank Transfer
If you and the recipient have Scotiabank accounts, you can send them funds.
- The transfer can be done via the Scotia portal with Western Union
- The recipient can pick up at any Western Union outlet on the island and present ID and the mtcn #
Why this works: This gets the funds directly into the account of the recipient. There's no need for them to find a vendor that may or may not be open (such as Western Union locations) for them to receive it.
4. Western Union & Moneygram
Western Union or Moneygram may be a great option for sending money, as ATMs are down across the island (or have very limited funds). But there are a few challenges:
Potential issues:
- We don't know which locations are currently open (power outages affected many businesses). You need to call to find out which locations are opened near the person.
- Western Union often flags transactions to Jamaica as potential scams, even for legitimate transfers
- You may need to argue with Western Union to complete the transfer (I've experienced this multiple times, even when sending to family with the same last name!)
If you want to try: Check with Western Union or Moneygram to confirm which locations are open in the recipient's area before sending.
5. PayPal
If the person you want to help has a PayPal account, you can send funds directly.
How it works:
- Get their PayPal email address
- Send money through PayPal
Note: Not all Jamaicans have PayPal accounts, and accessing funds may require internet (which is currently out for most of the island).
6. TikTok Gifts
If you're on TikTok, you can support Jamaicans directly through the app.
How it works:
- Find Jamaican creators on TikTok Live (look for Jamaica-based accounts or search #Jamaica, or #JamaicaHurricaneRelief)
- Add money to your TikTok account
- Send "gifts" during their live streams, which converts to real money for them
Why this works: It's a direct way to support people, and many Jamaicans are using TikTok to share their hurricane experiences and needs.
Send Items/Supplies
Why this works: At this point, the process of shipping barrels to Jamaica is going to take WEEKS at minimum, especially as the ports have been affected. These people are physically bringing these items to Jamaica and distributing them directly to communities in need.
1. Amazon Gift Cards
Amazon gift cards are incredibly versatile — recipients can either sell them for cash or use them to order essential supplies.
How it works:
- Purchase an Amazon gift card (amazon.com)
- Email the gift card code to the person you want to help
What they can do with it:
- Sell the gift card for cash (there are people and services that buy gift cards)
- Order supplies from Amazon and have them shipped to Jamaica (shipping may take time, but at least essential items will be on the way!)
2. Join Relief Coordination Groups
Connect with organized relief efforts to stay informed, volunteer, or coordinate larger donations.
Facebook Groups
Rebuild Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa Relief Network
Connect with others globally to find out which relief efforts you can join. Many group members are from the US, but those from other countries have joined as well!
Jamaica Expat Facebook Groups
Search for groups on Facebook such as "Expats in Jamaica," "Expats in Negril," "Expats in Montego Bay," etc,
Then, join the Facebook group to see what relief efforts are happening. Many people are sharing various ways to provide relief to those in Jamaica right now.
Facebook Groups in Your Country or City
Join the Facebook group in your country or the largest city closest to you. There are likely already efforts that exist, which will allow you to send donations.
3. Relief Organizations & Websites
This list will contain organizations or individuals who are providing direct relief to Jamaicans affected by the hurricane.
Mo is a Black American woman who is organizing efforts in and around Alabama to send
More coming soon!
Why this works: Sometimes, donating to certain larger organizations can result in funds being stolen or mismanaged, so the people who need it most don't receive it. These organizations or individuals are tired of seeing that happen.
Donating to these organizations or individuals will help ensure the donations get in the hands of people who need it most.
4. Amazon Wishlists
Several people are traveling to Jamaica and hand-delivering donated items directly to those affected. When you purchase items from these wishlists, you're ensuring supplies get into the hands of Jamaicans who need them most.
✈️ My Wishlist Fund
I'm currently in Jamaica and distributing items locally. In this wishlist, there is a Hurricane Relief Fund. Dollars contributed to the fund will go directly towards ordering items on the wishlist.
✈️ Dr. Nicole Files-Thompson's Wishlist
Travelling to Jamaica on November 24, 2025 to personally distribute supplies to communities in Hanover and St. Elizabeth.
Additional ways to contact Nicole and donate:
- PayPal
Travelling to Jamaica on November 12, 2025 to personally distribute supplies to impacted communities in Montego Bay, Negril, and Little London.
Additional ways to contact Rachel and donate:
- Email: rachel@rachelbuschjones.com
- Phone: 1 405 612 1055
Amazon Wishlists
Travelling to Jamaica on December 19, 2025 to personally distribute supplies to impacted communities in St. James and Falmouth
Additional ways to contact Tyler:
- Email: abundantlearner@gmail.com
- Whatsapp: 1 720 517 1353
More wishlists to come!
The Truth
Why Your Help Matters
Whether you're donating funds or supplies, your support can:
Keep generators running so families have power
Provide food for those who can't leave their homes
Help rebuild damaged homes
Give people a way to charge devices and contact loved ones
Why your help matters
Right now, most of Jamaica is without:
- Power (no electricity or cooling)
- Water (to drink, bathe, or wash clothes)
- Phone service (can't contact loved ones)
- Internet (except those with Starlink)
- And many are without homes and without food
People are running generators (if they have them) at significant cost — I've already spent over $17,000 JMD on gas in just a few days. Others are without any power at all.
Common Questions
Jamaica Relocation: What You Need to Know
Yes — depending on your lifestyle, financial situation, dependent situation, and location in Jamaica. Some areas are more affordable than others. But generally, you can comfortably live on about $2000 USD/mo. You can learn more on my channel and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
Unsafe places exist everywhere (even where you are now), and that includes Jamaica. However, some places are safer than others (such as gated communities). Ultimately, your safety will depend on where exactly you live. I talk more about safety from in my videos and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
Since Jamaica is a developing country, Jamaica still experiences power and water outages. However, the frequency really depends on your exact location in Jamaica. Some places experience outages more frequently than others. Generally, I find that if you are closer to a larger city, it's likely you'll experience fewer outages.
That said, I talk more about how to prepare for outages on my channel and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
You can, but you probably don't want to. Since Jamaica is still a developing country, the pay rate is quite low, and you will probably find it offensively low. Additionally, jobs (especially good jobs) in Jamaica are scarce, and you don't want to come and take away good jobs from the locals.
What I recommend instead is working remotely or starting your own business (online or in Jamaica). I talk more about this on my channel and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
You can. As far as I'm aware, there are no restrictions from foreigners buying property. However, I would highly recommend living here first before you buy any property.
Not everywhere in Jamaica will be your cup of tea. And not everywhere will meet your standard of living or stable access to utilities. Live here first to get a better understanding of the area(s) you may want to live in. Then, you can work with a realtor to buy property.
However, remember, you will need residency to live in Jamaica full time.
I talk about this more on my channel and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
No. You don't need citizenship, but you do need residency, depending on how long you plan to stay. Depending on your nationality, you may be able to stay up to 6 or 9 months without residency. You can learn more on my channel and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
In many ways, it IS more affordable — but not always. Some things cost more, especially imported goods. Or, some things cost the same as Canada or the U.S., but the quality is poorer. I share more information on channel and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
Since Jamaica is still a developing country, utilities aren't always stable, and that includes the internet. However, I have found the internet to be good enough (and fast enough) to stream shows, have video calls, and play online games without issue. I talk more about this on my channel and give more detail in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
This will mostly depend on your lifestyle. But generally, you want to bring things that will help you prepare for those water and power outages. So, solar powered items, water pumps (for water jugs), etc. However, I talk more about this on my channel and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
2 things:
- Coming without some money (and/or an income plan)
- Expecting Jamaica to be like their country of origin
As me how I know 😂.
But in general, people need to remember that Jamaica is an entirely different country than theirs, with their own customs, processes, and frustrations. Some things will take some getting used to, and some things will work entirely differently than what people are used to.
However, you can find a lot of information about how to best prepare on my channel and in my Moving to Jamaica Starter Guide.
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