"It's been a mix of sadness, concern and hope," said Honorary Consul of Jamaica in Philadelphia Christopher Chaplin of the aftermath of the storm.
Chaplin says two local families are still trying to find their loved ones who live in Jamaica.
"It's the worst hurricane that has ever hit Jamaica," he said.
Last Tuesday, Melissa made landfall in Jamaica-ravaging homes and businesses. The recovery process is now underway with help from many communities.
"I've been getting a lot of calls and emails of support. Everybody wants to pitch in," said Chaplin.
Chaplin is helping to spearhead relief efforts: collecting donations at six sites across the area, including True United church in Philadelphia's Ogontz section.
"Communication is poor because half the country doesn't have electricity right now," said True United Church Sr. Pastor Bishop Shawn Bartley. "So, we've also set up so people can call, and we can pray with them. Have emotional support."
Born in Jamaica, Bartley feels the pain of many of his congregants who have loved ones in Jamaica.
"I felt it last Tuesday and Wednesday. And I realized as people were calling here, some were broken. Some haven't heard from families. Some are concerned," he said.
His church is collecting donations like clothes and canned goods for the volunteers on the ground, as well as a church and an orphanage that the congregation helps in Jamaica. The larger collection effort is looking for items like tarps, batteries, flashlights, pillows, hygiene kits, and baby formula (full list below).
"In Jamaica, it will be consigned to the office of disaster preparedness and emergency management, which is equivalent to the US's FEMA," said Chaplin.
Officials in Philadelphia plan to send the items to Jamaica by Thanksgiving.
The consul's office is accepting monetary donations as well. Below is a list of items being requested through the consul's collection efforts, as well as drop-off sites in Philadelphia, Norristown, Drexel Hill, and New Castle, Del.
Items Needed
- Batteries
- Baby formula
- Cots
- Flashlights
- Mattresses
- Pillowcases
- Pillows
- Tarpaulins
- Buckets with lids
- Hygiene kits
- Fruit and vegetable seeds
- Chlorine tablets
- Lanterns (solar and battery)
- Monetary donations
To volunteer email: chris@jamaicaconsulatephiladelphia.com
Collection Sites
Besco Shippers (M-F 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.)
5425 Baltimore Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19143
True United Church (Sundays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
6201 Old York Rd. Philadelphia, PA 19141
**This site is also collection donations of clothing and canned food. Call before bringing those items 215-844-1132
Everything Package (M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. / Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
830 N. Lansdown Ave. Drexel Hill, PA 19026
West End NTCOG (Sundays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
23 Marshall St. Norristown PA 19401
Norristown Church of God (Sundays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
329 E. Wood St. Norristown, PA 19401
Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (Saturday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
77 McCulloch Dr New Cast-le, DE 19720