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Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28, business owners in St. Thomas have united to mobilise a series of donations for communities most severely impacted by the disaster in western Jamaica. Dubbed ‘St. Thomas Helping Hands’, the initiative has facilitated the assembly of more than 700 care packages, to date, containing food, clothing, and personal items. Additional supplies include wheelbarrows, shovels, hammers, nails, tarpaulins, stoves, and bottled water. The initiative is being spearheaded by Garrie “Wanda Oh Canada” Parker of Double Scoops Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor; Courtney “Dave” Goldson of Essential Discount Mart; Marlon Burke of St. Thomas Events; Christopher Davey of Epik International Sound; Michael Brown of Dan Designz; Rohan Allen and other committed community leaders. Distribution of the relief items is scheduled to commence on Friday (November 7), with Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland and surrounding communities identified as initial targets. Mr. Parker, who uses his popular restaurant as one of two drop-off hubs in St. Thomas, told JIS News that the initiative reflects the compassionate spirit and community-mindedness of the residents. “We decided to come together and do something about the current situation in the west. We made the call and a lot of persons answered… people are still bringing stuff. I wouldn’t say it is overwhelming, because I expected this. This is St. Thomas, and we are a caring parish,” he said. In addition to establishing drop-off locations, the St. Thomas Helping Hands initiative has evolved into a viral movement across the parish, with residents actively challenging one another to pledge support for the cause. Mr. Parker stated that, given the volume of donated items, two large box trucks will be used to transport the supplies during the first delivery run on Friday. He emphasised that the initiative has received the full support of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), which will be providing uniformed officers to accompany the convoy. Meanwhile, his colleague, Christopher Davey, described the initiative as a bridge connecting the people of the east with their fellow citizens in the west who are in urgent need. “We are from St. Thomas, which is the eastern end of the island and the furthest from the west. We figured that we will make it easier for the people from the east to be a part of the donating to the west,” he said. Commenting on the viral challenge, Mr. Davey shared, “We did one video and said ‘let’s call out a friend’ and lots of small businesses came on board, persons in Kingston and even the overseas fraternity.” With the movement ongoing, the organisers express gratitude to those who have already contributed, while encouraging others to continue making drop-offs or offering support in any way they can. Donations may be delivered to Double Scoops Restaurant in Yallahs or across from Essential Discount Mart in Morant Bay. “If you haven’t donated as yet, there is still time to do so, because [the people in the west] are going to need the help for quite a while,” Mr. Davey said. Mr. Parker added that, “No matter how small it is, each one help one; am I my brother’s keeper? Yes, I am.”
