Raging for roughly 10 days over the Caribbean in late October, Hurricane Melissa was an intense tropical storm that caused widespread destruction and become the third most intense Atlantic hurricane on record.
One of the affected countries was Jamaica, where the current death toll stands at 45 people, with 15 people still marked as missing. While the region continues to heal and rebuild after this natural disaster, many organizations, such as Project HOPE, have provided humanitarian aid to those impacted. Archer’s Black Student Union held a fundraiser during lunch in the courtyard Friday, Dec. 12, to donate to Project Hope. At the fundraiser, they served a variety of Jamaican food and desserts for students and faculty to purchase with their One Cards. Some items they sold included jerk chicken, Jamaican rice and apple bites.
BSU Executive Board member Alexa Grant (’26) said she saw videos showing Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impacts on the internet over the past few months. During the holiday season, Grant said BSU typically holds a toy drive fundraiser collecting Black dolls and action figures for children, but this year the executive board felt it was important to instead respond to the impacts of the hurricane.
“We decided that we wanted to do a fundraiser for the victims of the hurricane because I feel like it’s very contemporary and [an] issue that is affecting a lot of people, and it would be very nice to also introduce Jamaican culture to Archer as well,” Grant said. “I don’t know how many Jamaican students we have, but being able to use this as a learning experience and a way to heal across countries is the biggest thing.”
Standing near the checkout line with a plate of jerk chicken, sophomore Zoe Eyraud said BSU’s fundraiser was effective in spreading awareness about the hurricane.
“Honestly, I didn’t know about it before this fundraiser,” Eyraud said. “When I saw the flyers, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I didn’t know that happened,’ and I actually looked into it. I find [this fundraiser] very inspiring.”
Project HOPE is a nonprofit, global health and humanitarian organization based in Washington, D.C., and has a location in Los Angeles. However, its work extends beyond the United States. According to their website, “Project HOPE distributed food and medical supplies to community of 250 people in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains who were cut off by landslide.”
Considering the significant distance between Los Angeles and Hurricane Melissa victims, Habtu said BSU members still wanted to find a way to support the affected communities. She also said she thinks BSU has a responsibility to help others across other communities.
“In this case, helping out with those affected by Hurricane Melissa, I think it’s just really helping other communities and making sure that we’re doing all that we can do in our availability and power,” Habtu said. “Obviously the hurricane was in Jamaica, and we’re in LA, [but] even if it’s abroad or we’re far away, I think it’s just helping out as much as we can to make sure any community is safe.”
Grant said researching Hurricane Melissa in preparation for the fundraiser was a very impactful moment. There has been a wide range of nonprofit groups working to help with community recovery from the hurricane, and Grant said she felt inspired by the unity.
“The biggest thing that I learned is just how much people were able to come together … because I’ve seen online videos … about how people are swimming through the hurricane and those kinds of things, but [those victims] are still helping other people, which I think was very impactful for me,” Grant said. “[I’m] thinking about how that could translate over to my own life.”
