In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Broward County is calling on residents and businesses to help support Caribbean nations affected by the storm.
Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm of the year, slammed Jamaica’s southwest coast as a Category 5 cyclone last Tuesday, leaving widespread infrastructural damage, flooding, and claiming 28 lives to date.
County officials are asking for donations of items, including tarps, water, flashlights, sleeping bags, batteries, trash bags, tents, work gloves, nonperishable food, solar-powered lights, personal care products, baby diapers, and first aid kits. Officials noted that used clothing and linens are not being requested.
The call‑to‑action is also deeply rooted in Broward’s own demographics. Approximately 14.6 % of Broward County residents are foreign‑born from Caribbean nations. The county is home to around 118,000 residents of Jamaican ancestry, making up about 6.1 % of the county’s population and the largest Jamaican‑ancestry community in Florida.
With more than 14 % of its population identifying as West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups), Broward is one of the most concentrated regions of Caribbean heritage in the U.S.
“Victims of Hurricane Melissa throughout the Caribbean need and deserve our support,” said Broward County Mayor Beam Furr. “I encourage every Broward County resident to consider donating items they will need for the foreseeable future.”
Drop-off locations include:
Broward County Libraries
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South Regional/Broward County Library, Pembroke Pines — Mon-Wed: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thurs-Sun: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
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Miramar Branch Library and Education Center, Miramar — Wed: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thurs-Sat: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., beginning Nov. 3: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
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West Regional Library, Plantation — Mon-Wed: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thurs-Sun: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
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Southwest Regional Library, Pembroke Pines — Mon-Wed: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thurs-Sun: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Broward County Parks
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Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill — Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Tradewinds Park & Stables, Coconut Creek — Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jamaican-American District 7 County Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis emphasized the importance of the drive, saying, “The devastation that Hurricane Melissa caused in the Caribbean is heartbreaking and it is our duty to help families in desperate need of support.”
Commissioner Hazelle P. Rogers, a daughter of Jamaica, added, “Yet in the face of destruction and devastation, I am reminded of the extraordinary resilience of the Jamaican people and the unwavering strength of our diaspora.”
Residents and businesses are encouraged to drop off supplies at any of the designated locations. For more information, visit Broward.org.
