Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has partnered with the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York and Irie Jam Radio to launch a large-scale donation drive supporting families devastated by Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica on Oct. 28.
Through Monday, Jan. 5, residents are encouraged to donate medical supplies, hygiene items, and select household essentials to help communities struggling to recover from the historic storm. Accepted donations include:
- Advertisement -
- Medical supplies: bandages, gauze pads, alcohol pads, masks, latex gloves, and over-the-counter medications
- Hygiene products: hand sanitizer, diapers, toothpaste, menstrual products
- Household items: tarps, bedding
Food and clothing will not be accepted.
All donations may be dropped off at Queens Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens. A clearly marked drop-off box will be stationed beside the first-floor security desk, accessible 24 hours a day.
Richards, whose family roots trace back to Jamaica, urged New Yorkers to support the island during one of its darkest moments.
“The scenes of total destruction and entire Jamaican towns flattened by Hurricane Melissa have been nothing short of stunning and heartbreaking,” Richards said. “But Jamaicans are resilient beyond measure. They will rebuild, but they will need our help along the way. If you are able, I encourage you to donate whatever supplies you can so Queens can be there for our Caribbean neighbors in their time of need.”
Hurricane Melissa is now recorded as the only Category 5 storm to ever strike Jamaica, making landfall with sustained winds of 185 mph — the strongest Atlantic hurricane landfall in documented history.
The storm claimed dozens of lives and left behind at least US$6 billion in damage, amounting to nearly 30% of Jamaica’s GDP.
The disaster follows Hurricane Beryl, which brushed just south of the island in the summer of 2024 as a Category 4 storm, killing four people and causing close to US$200 million in damage.
Queens officials say the borough’s strong Caribbean community, one of the largest in the U.S., has always rallied during moments of crisis and expects to do so again as Jamaica begins a long path to recovery.
