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More than US$20 million has been raised through the GoFundMe platform, to date, from donors around the world to help families, businesses, and communities in Jamaica recover from Hurricane Melissa, which hit the island on October 28.

The figure was disclosed to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) in response to a query made to the United States-based website.

A search by JIS News returned at least a thousand individual campaigns launched on the website in support of individuals and nonprofits in Jamaica.

Among the most successful campaigns is the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation Relief Fund, which had raised more than US$156,000 as at 5:00 pm on November 12.

Led by the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation with support from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Aljamain ‘Funk Master’ Sterling, Maxi Priest, and Intercept Music, the campaign is intended to provide emergency supplies such as clothing and personal hygiene items for families impacted by Hurricane Melissa in the short term.

Another goal is to support local rebuilding and housing efforts, including supplying roofing kits to homeowners. These kits will include zinc, lumber, and other necessary materials such as nails and screws, as well as a technician to install the roof.

The roofing kit is valued at US$3,800, and the Foundation indicates that it will work closely with partners to ensure fair distribution to all those in need.

In a video update on the campaign, Maxi Priest emphasised that Hurricane Melissa has left many Jamaicans in need. “The rebuild won’t happen overnight, it’s gonna take time…but the people of Jamaica are strong, resilient and full of spirit. Together we can rise again, as we know we will,” the entertainer affirmed.     

Another campaign gaining traction on the platform is the Rockhouse Foundation Hurricane Recovery Fund, which had raised more than US$343,000 as at 5:00 pm on November 12, in support of the Savanna-la-mar Inclusive School.

In an interview with JIS News, Foundation Chairman Paul Salmon, explained that the institution has been the foundation’s main project over the last seven or eight years.

“We partnered with the Ministry of Education…and we funded the building of it from the ground up. It is an inclusive model school where kids with disabilities learn alongside, you know, kids without disabilities in a full inclusion setting… and we have got about 265 kids at the school, about 200 families,” Salmon explained.

He noted that the hurricane made landfall less than 10 miles from the school, and left roofs torn off and several classrooms flooded. Therapy equipment, learning materials and the school grounds were also badly damaged.

“We set up this fund that is focused on helping with the recovery. The primary things that we are spending the money on are repairing and rebuilding the damaged classrooms and therapy spaces at the school, replacing essential educational and therapeutic equipment that’s been lost to the flooding, cleaning up the school [and] restoring a safe environment. We are also providing direct assistance to our teachers and administration at the school and supporting the students and families of the school as well,” Salmon outlined.

He told JIS News that a work crew has been mobilised and has already begun carrying out the necessary repairs. “I think by the end of the month, the school would be in a position to reopen,” the Chairman posited.              

He added that the Foundation has also provided support to the school’s teachers to help them through the crisis induced by Hurricane Melissa and has partnered with World Central Kitchen to provide hot meals to hurricane victims.

Another effort gaining momentum on the GoFundMe platform is being led by former Reggae Girlz alum Havana Solaun and her mother, Sandra Phillips.

As at 5:00 pm on November 12, the duo had raised a little over US$6,000 of their US$9,000 goal to help families in Montego Bay, St James.

Their fundraiser will provide materials like zinc, lumber, and generators for families whose homes were damaged during the hurricane.

To support the fundraisers, GoFundMe has created a Hurricane Melissa Relief centralised hub, which offers guidance on how to safely fundraise on the platform.

The company says hundreds of verified fundraisers for those impacted by the hurricane are being updated continually by its Trust & Safety team.

“Every verified fundraiser on our Hurricane Melissa Relief Hub has undergone enhanced due diligence, including expert human review and advanced technical safeguards,” Communications and Crisis Response Manager, Angelique McNaughton, told JIS News.

The Manager explained that the Trust & Safety team proactively verifies fundraisers during crises like Hurricane Melissa to ensure funds go directly to those in need.

“For our team to verify a fundraiser, it must be clear who the organiser is, as well as the person, business, or charity they are raising funds for, the organiser’s relationship to the recipient of the funds, and how the funds will be used,” she explains.

If additional information is needed to complete the verification review, the team places a hold on a fundraiser, which prevents funds from being withdrawn, pending further review.

In the rare instances of misuse of the platform, the team takes swift action, including outright removal of the fundraiser and, in some cases, even banning an account for violating their terms of service.

GoFundMe also offers a donor protection guarantee, which provides full refunds in the case of misuse or misleading campaigns.