Jamaican-American Broward County Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis hosted a press conference on Wednesday with several community partners to discuss coordinated relief efforts in South Florida to help Jamaica and other Caribbean nations recover from Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 storm that devastated parts of the island’s south coast and western region last week.
“We continue to stand in solidarity with our Caribbean neighbors and particularly the people of Jamaica,” Davis said. “I was raised in Jamaica and still have close family and friends on the island. Everybody survived, but they are traumatized. They have many needs. It’s not just a natural disaster—it’s a humanitarian effort that’s needed now.”
The Broward Office of Emergency Management is working closely with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, and Broward municipal partners to send aid. Broward staff have also joined state volunteers at the Global Empowerment Mission warehouse in Doral to pack and load supplies headed to Jamaica.
Among those standing with Davis were community leaders and organizations rallying support through donations and volunteer efforts.
John Colombo, Vice President of the Florida Panthers Foundation and Community Relations, said their organization is holding collection drives for relief supplies and monetary contributions. “Our fans, we want to thank for supporting our efforts with our collection drives as well as financial support,” he said. “The Florida Panthers are very lucky to have a fan base that cares about its community, and we’re very thrilled to have partners that support even beyond our community. We’re very proud to be able to provide items in need to support those in need in Jamaica.”
Jamaican attorney Marlon Hill urged Floridians to give whatever they can, especially as the holidays approach. “I have an appeal to dedicate your Thanksgiving to Jamaica,” he said. “Give anything above zero to an organization you know is doing the work, along with any comfort items—tents, tarpaulins, air mattresses, hygiene items, and nourishment. Food is running out.”
Former Broward Mayor Dale Holness, who was also born in Jamaica, echoed that message: “If everyone makes a contribution, that will be very helpful to all.”
Captain Barrington Irving Jr., the Jamaican Guinness World Record holder recognized as the youngest person and first Black pilot to fly solo around the world, said airlift operations are already being arranged. “This will take a monumental effort,” he said. “One of the things we’ve focused on is trying to help get the supplies down to the island. We’re taking 50,000 pounds of cargo at a time on a Boeing 737-800 and forth from South Florida to Jamaica.”
The captain is doing so through his NGO, Experience Aviation, which has coordinated and delivered more than half a million pounds of humanitarian supplies, most notably during Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, and several other disaster relief efforts across the region.
“We’ve had folks call and say, ‘Hey, I have a garage filled with items—I just don’t know how to get it there.’ The whole point is to get these items into the hands of people in the various communities. Our first two trips start next Monday and Tuesday and will continue through thanksgiving.”
Jeff Holness, a Jamaican-born Broward County School Board member representing District 5, said the school district is also joining the coordinated effort. “I was born in Jamaica—I grew up in St. Elizabeth—so what I’ll say is Broward County Schools have also joined relief efforts to make sure that we’re providing the necessary support to Jamaica, Haiti, parts of the Bahamas, and regions that have been affected,” he said. “We’ve partnered with BrightStar Credit Union, the Broward County Association of Student Councils, the Broward Council of PTAs, the Broward Education Foundation, the Broward Principals and Assistant Principals Association, and the Broward Teachers Union to support Jamaica.”
The county’s strong response reflects its Caribbean roots. Roughly 14.6% of Broward County residents are foreign-born from Caribbean nations, with about 118,000 residents of Jamaican ancestry, representing 6.1% of the county’s population—the largest Jamaican community in Florida.
Donation drop-off locations have been set up at:
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 & Education Center: 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.*
