How Western New Yorkers can show support for those impacted by Hurricane Melissa
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Countries in the Caribbean are left picking up the pieces in the wake of Hurricane Melissa's destruction. For Western New Yorkers who are looking for ways to help those impacted, WIVB News 4 spoke to some organizations that are finding ways to help.
The Chef Darian Bryan Foundation's Jamaica Relief Fund
Chef Darian Bryan of Bratts Hill and the Plating Society and his sister, Sherece Lewis, grew up in Clarendon, Jamaica.
Bryan and Lewis started The Chef Darian Bryan Foundation in February and they have started a Jamaica Relief Fund to help the island of Jamaica rebuild after Hurricane Melissa.
"Even if it's a dollar per person or whatever you have, because I know (with) the economy, a lot of people are in need right now, but anything you have can make a big difference in a small community," Lewis said.
They will be working with charities in Negril and Clarendon in Jamaica, and money will go toward food, goods, and services. They also plan to go to Jamaica to provide support as well.
"We're one united group of people, especially in a time like this, we all come together and we all just work together and rebuild," said Bryan.
To make a donation to their relief fund, click here.
Mission of Hope
News 4 spoke to an organization called "Mission of Hope" that several Western New Yorkers are involved with. It's an organization that started in 1998 and serves people of Haiti with education, nutrition, and medical care, and they work with local churches.
"My wife and I went there after we were just married, and a little girl died in her dad's arms because she starved to death. And that was the reason we chose to go to Haiti, we felt like God wanted us to go there and make an impact for them," said Brad Johnson, the founder and CEO of Mission of Hope.
Johnson said Mission of Hope currently feeds more than 136,000 children a day throughout the country.
"We are seeing unbelievable things happening there where a million and a half people are displaced from their homes because of gangs, and then this storm extrapolates that because it took out one of the roads that was a major source of bringing supplies to the south," said Johnson. "The south part of Haiti was hit very hard by flooding and winds."
People can donate to the Mission of Hope by clicking here.
The Salvation Army in Buffalo
The Salvation Army in Buffalo is also collecting donations for aid in Jamaica.
People can text "JAMAICA" to 31333 to donate, and they say all the donations go directly to the efforts in Jamaica.