Rebuilding Hope After Hurricane Melissa: Your Support Is Reaching Jamaica’s Hardest-Hit Communities
- staths78
- Nov 21
- 3 min read
From essential supplies to restored connectivity, STATHS ’78 & Friends donors are helping families, students, and educators regain stability and dignity.
A Community Lifted by Your Kindness
In the devastating wake of Hurricane Melissa, many families across Jamaica have been left displaced, vulnerable, and uncertain about the future. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, STATHS ’78 & Friends, Inc. has been able to stand in the gap—bringing practical relief, comfort, and renewed hope to some of the hardest-hit communities in western Jamaica.
Our efforts have extended beyond a single school to the wider Belmont community, where students, staff, and families are working to rebuild their lives.
Belmont Academy & Community: “Your Impact Is Felt”
Serving as both Principal of Belmont Academy and a community leader, Mr. Simpson shared a powerful message of gratitude on behalf of the school and surrounding community:
“Belmont Academy and the wider community extend profound gratitude to STATHS ’78 & Friends for your unwavering generosity and timely support. Your donations — including clothing, solar lights with chargers, Starlink devices, foam mattresses for comfort, tarps, water, and other essentials — have strengthened our ability to serve our students, staff, and community with dignity and resilience.”
These supplies are helping to:
Provide light and charging in areas without reliable electricity
Restore communication and coordination via Starlink connectivity
Bring comfort and rest to those sleeping in shelters on foam mattresses
Protect homes and temporary structures with tarps
Support basic daily needs with water, clothing, and hygiene essentials
Mr. Simpson added:
“Your contribution stands as a shining reminder that, even in challenging times, there are groups who choose to lift others higher. Your partnership is meaningful, your impact is felt, and your kindness will echo far beyond this moment.”
Beyond the School Gates: Serving the Wider Community
While Belmont Academy is a focal point, much of the donated support has flowed directly into the broader community:
Families taking shelter on campus or in nearby facilities
Staff members and parents who lost homes or possessions
Students whose families were impacted by flooding and wind damage
Neighbours relying on the school as a hub for stability and information
By equipping the school and community with lighting, connectivity, bedding, water, and protective covering, your support has transformed a place of learning into a center of relief and reassurance.
Looking Ahead: Recovery and Resilience
Recovery from Hurricane Melissa will not happen overnight. STATHS ’78 & Friends remains committed to:
Additional community support for affected families
Collaborating with SIPA and other alumni bodies
Providing assistance to STATHS families, faculty, and school operations
Keeping donors updated as new needs arise
Long-term rebuilding efforts as the island recovers
Keeping sight of our long-term vision for youth wellness through the MCIC (Medical, Counseling & Intervention Center) at St. Andrew Technical High School
Your generosity today strengthens the foundation for resilience tomorrow.
With Gratitude and Solidarity
Thank you to every donor, supporter, and friend who has stood with Jamaica during this difficult time. Your kindness is not only easing immediate burdens—it is restoring hope.
STATHS ’78 & Friends, Inc.
Honour • Diligence • Service
Call to Action
📌 Stay connected and donate where possible: Share this post, tag your chapter, and keep the conversation going. Let’s continue building the MCIC legacy — one step at a time, one community at a time.