Hurricane Melissa has left a devastating impact across Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, with the death toll now at least 80. Recovery efforts are ongoing, and the scale of the damage is overwhelming. Kerry Cohen, a Jamaican native now living in Mobile, Alabama, felt the need to act after the storm hit, especially since she couldn’t reach her family in Jamaica for several days. "I'm just a little Jamaican here in Mobile, not a leader, just a person," Cohen says, sharing how a friend's encouragement inspired her to take action.
Determined to help, Cohen has teamed up with local organizations to gather supplies for Jamaica. She’s coordinating a donation drive, with items collected in Mobile, Birmingham, and Montgomery to be sent directly to Food for the Poor in Miami, bypassing customs to ensure they reach those in need as quickly as possible. Christ United Church in Mobile has offered its space for drop-offs, with the support of Pastor Rob Couch, who believes in the vision God put on Kerry’s heart. Donations can be dropped off at Christ United on Grelot Road, and Cohen will transport them to Atlanta for shipping on November 17.