PEOPLE in Redditch are being treated to an evening of live entertainment – all to raise cash to help their twin parish of St Elizabeth in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa tore through the island.
St Elizabeth, twinned with Redditch Borough since 2006, has been hard hit, with local towns like Black River and Brompton suffering extensive damage and loss after the category 5 storm devastated the island with 185mph winds.
Worst-hit areas include Fyffes Pen, Cambridge, Cotterwood, Speculation, Luana and Front Hill.
Businessman Damian Simpson, of D&D Roofing Supplies, originally from Black River, is leading a grassroots campaign in Redditch to collect and ship essential supplies to affected families.
Redditch’s long-standing community ties to St Elizabeth, where a friendship link was first established in 1990, have seen Redditch Borough Council also join the appeal, with the authority providing additional collection points and promotional support.
With infrastructure destroyed and many residents left without shelter, Damian and colleagues headed over to the area last week to donate their efforts to the rebuilding effort and have taken aid barrels with them.
Damian intends to fly out at the end of the month to distribute the collections and to help with his tradesman friends in rebuilding some roofs.
The community is hosting a concert fundraiser at St Stephen’s Church this Saturday (December 13), hosted by Jacko Melody.
There will be a DJ and Birmingham singer Claire Angel will be performing. They are being supported from entertainers both out of Redditch, Birmingham and Jamaica.
Claire is a world class vocalist and entertainer who delivers on stage.
The concert promises to be a real treat for any music lover to hear – it runs from 6.30pm until 9.30pm.
