Durrant Pate/Contributor

As the Jamaican diaspora reaches out to aid in the island’s hurricane recovery, another benefit concert is underway in England this week.

The concert set for Wednesday (December 10) in Penzance, England, is being held to support the Truro-based charity, ShelterBox, for those affected by Hurricane Melissa. ShelterBox is working with Jamaican charities such as Food for the Poor and Rotary in Jamaica to provide shelter kits, thermal blankets, mosquito nets and solar lights.

Head of emergency responses at ShelterBox, Dave Raybould says, “these supplies were shipped from our warehouse in Barbados, where we pre-positioned supplies before the hurricane season, so we were ready to go. We have more aid on the way – we’re sending tarpaulins, rope, and essential aid items from our warehouse in Panama for the next phase of the response.” 

Kat Carr, the lead singer of Latin and Caribbean band Kizamba, who is organizing the concert has reached out to ShelterBox to ask them to open the upcoming Kizamba concert with a presentation on their work in Jamaica. Carr, who grew up in Kingston, says, “the band and I really wanted to do something to raise awareness and contribute, given our connection to Jamaica and the music we play. We decided our final gig of 2025 would be the perfect opportunity to do a community fundraiser.” 

Carr reported that she was just 11 when she witnessed Hurricane Gilbert, which hit Jamaica in September 1988, and she and her family were in Jamaica when Hurricane Melissa struck in October.

She trumpeted that, “Jamaicans are made of the very strongest stuff, but rebuilding after a storm like this takes time, money, and help from organisations like ShelterBox, who are on the ground delivering vital aid.” 

The concert is on at The Acorn in Penzance on Wednesday at 20:00 GMT. Last week, over £20,000 was raised by Jamaicans and other supporters in the UK for children’s homes, early childhood institutions, homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities, community groups, and first responders in areas most affected by Hurricane Melissa. 

The funds were raised through the JN Money-supported ‘For the Love of Jamaica’ benefit concert held at Boxpark Wembley in the UK recently.