REDDITCH residents have pulled together to help their twin parish of St Elizabeth in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa tore through the island, leaving homes destroyed and lives shattered.
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.
With infrastructure destroyed and many residents left without shelter, Damian and colleagues headed over to the area on Monday to donate their efforts to rebuilding and have taken aid barrels with them.
Essential items have been collected for the barrels, including rice, sugar, flour, tinned goods, pasta, toothpaste, batteries, and sanitary products, and the campaign is hoping to collect more.
The first shipments left Redditch this week and more is set to arrive in the coming weeks.
Damian said: “A lot of us in Redditch know people who are affected by this.
“Every contribution helps big or small. Thank you to everyone who has donated or is thinking of donating.
“A lot more is needed and you’re very welcome, please just come talk to us.”
The campaign, just launched, has seen generous support from local businesses and organisations including Redditch Masonic Lodge, Isaac’s Food Bank, TJ Security Systems, Huws Gray Redditch, and Paul Hodgkins.
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.
The community is also hosting a concert fundraiser at St Stephen’s Church next month, hosted by Jacko Melody.
There will be a DJ and Birmingham singer Claire Angel will be performing.
Email: [email protected] for more information.
