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Another Force Arising
There is a terrifying sound that comes with a Category 5 hurricane—a roar that drowns out prayers and tears, leaving behind an even heavier silence. For the residents of Bath Mountain in Westmoreland, Jamaica, that silence is not peaceful; it is the sound of a community holding its breath, waiting for help to arrive.
When the winds of Hurricane Melissa finally settled, they revealed a landscape stripped of its normalcy. Roofs were torn from family homes, critical services were severed, and the safe havens where children slept were reduced to debris.
But in the wake of this devastation, another force is rising—one of resilience, memory, and unyielding compassion. We have the power to amplify that force today.
A Bridge Between the Bronx and Bath Mountain
For Ivy Brown, Bath Mountain is not just a news headline or a pin on a map; it is the soil that raised her. Although she has built a life and career in the Bronx over the last 25 years, her heart has never left the hills of Westmoreland.
As the CEO of the Utopia Resource Center Greater NY Inc., Ivy has spent her life bridging the gap between resources and those in need. Now, she faces the most personal mission of her career: saving the community that shaped her.
The devastation left by Hurricane Melissa is absolute. The storm did not discriminate, leaving 150 households in dire straits.
These are not just statistics; these are families who have lost the roofs over their heads and the security of their daily lives. The destruction has disrupted critical services, meaning that even the most basic necessities—clean water, electricity, and medical care—are now luxuries.
The people of Bath Mountain are resilient, but resilience cannot replace a destroyed home or fill an empty stomach. They are standing in the wreckage, ready to rebuild, but they cannot do it with their bare hands alone.
The Urgent Need for Action
The Utopia Resource Center is currently mobilizing to provide immediate, life-saving relief, but the scale of the destruction requires a collective effort.
The funds raised from this campaign will go directly to the front lines of this crisis. The priorities are clear and urgent: food to feed the hungry, clean water to prevent disease, and medical supplies to treat the injured. Beyond these immediate biological needs, the campaign aims to provide shelter materials and tents to get families out of the elements.
Crucially, the fundraiser is also sourcing “solar gadgets.” In a region where the power grid has been decimated, these solar tools are not just conveniences—they are lifelines that provide light in the darkness and a way to stay connected to the outside world.
Every dollar donated helps purchase these tangible items. A donation isn’t just money; it is a tarp for a leaking roof, a meal for a child, or a solar light for a frightened family. The goal is to raise $15,000 to cover these essentials, and while the road to recovery is long, the first steps must be taken now.
Please donate
We often feel helpless when we see images of disaster, believing that the problem is too big for us to solve. But for the 150 families in Bath Mountain, you do not need to solve the whole problem—you just need to be part of the solution. Ivy Brown and the Utopia Resource Center are ready to do the heavy lifting, but they need the resources to move forward.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Compassion in Action campaign today. Whether you can give $50 or $5, your contribution translates directly into relief for a neighbor in Jamaica. If you cannot donate at this time, your voice is just as powerful—please share this story and the fundraiser link with your network.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE (even the smallest amount will help)
or use the QR code to access the GoFundMe page from your phone
Bring Hope Home
Disasters like Hurricane Melissa test the infrastructure of our cities, but they also test the fabric of our humanity. Bath Mountain is hurt, but it is not broken.
By coming together—across oceans and borders—we can remind the people of Westmoreland that they are not forgotten. Let’s turn our compassion into action and help Ivy Brown bring hope back home.