Rebuilding after Hurricane Beryl
please join me in supporting the Treasure Beach community
I’ve written about this before.
There’s this likkle (little) place in the world that I love dearly…
Given my work and other circumstances, I’ve had the good fortune of travelling and living all over the world. This has been the utmost privilege, because it’s given me the gift of understanding that we’re fundamentally all the same. And that we’re all very much in the same boat. Figuratively and literally.
Of all the places in the world though, it’s Treasure Beach, Jamaica that has marked me the most indelibly. I’ll write more soon about why that is. It’s hard to put such a wonderful place and people into concise words, though this piece by Diana McCaulay in Bookanista captures a lot of what I love about this magical place and why I consider it to be my second home.
But this isn’t about me.
It’s about what happened on July 3, 2024, when this small fishing and farming community in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth in Jamaica was pummeled by the eyewall of Hurricane Beryl.
While no one was injured or lost - for which we give infinite thanks - the devastation has been immense. Countless friends and people we know in the community lost their roofs and homes, businesses and livelihoods. Churches, schools and community spaces were destroyed or severely damaged. Folks are working tirelessly on the ground to restore electricity, connectivity and water, but there’s still a long ways to go. You can get a glimpse of the situation in this beautiful reel put together by TreasureBeach.com with photos from Abbie Townsend and Kirth Bobb.
Treasure Beach is a place that exemplifies community. The people are banding together to rebuild and support each other, as they always have. Together, they will build back better. This ethos of resilience and mutual support is beautifully profiled in this piece from the Miami Herald.
Watching this unfold at a distance, I’ve been thinking a lot about the notions of community and solidarity and how they manifest. I’ve also been reflecting on development - the macro and the micro, the way they interact and how they’re both important. And in addition, I’ve been thinking about the injustice of those who exemplify good environmental stewardship having to bear the consequences of a climate crisis that’s not of their making.
On all of these issues, I think that Treasure Beach has a lot to teach the world. So please stay tuned for a longer piece on this.
But in the meanwhile:
Would you consider making a donation to help the Treasure Beach community to rebuild?
There are a range of organizations - from local to global - who are raising funds and partnering in the relief effort on the ground. This is an excellent thing, considering that the needs are great and a lot of support is required. To help consolidate and increase access to the relevant information, I put together and am regularly updating this summary of the fundraising efforts.
And from now until the end of July, I will be using this platform to match donations by 44 Revolutions subscribers up to an amount of $1,000.
To donate and avail of the match:
Simply choose one of the fundraising initiatives from the table and follow the relevant link. If you don’t have time to read up on the options, I would suggest a tax-deductible donation through the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), whose support is being matched by the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica and channeled through the Breds Treasure Beach Foundation on the ground. Make sure you note that it’s ‘For Treasure Beach’.
Send me a message with the receipt enclosed.
It’s as simple as that, and of course you can contact me with any questions or alternative ideas. No amount is too small in support of this beautiful community, whose love, strength and generosity are endless and inspire me every day. Thank you!
