‘They are our neighbors’: Miami-Dade leaders rally behind hurricane relief effort
As Hurricane Melissa crept toward the St. Elizabeth parish of Jamaica, South Florida leaders gathered Tuesday morning to encourage residents to give what they can as soon as possible.
“Here we are, not waiting to hear that our help is needed,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava at a press conference at the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) headquarters in Doral. “We are already organized, galvanized and ready to help.”
GEM, a disaster relief nonprofit, is at the center of South Florida’s efforts to collect, sort, pack, transport and distribute donated items for Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean after the Category 5 storm cuts its path through Jamaica and Cuba and heads toward the Atlantic Ocean. Alongside GEM, several South Florida nonprofits and municipalities began organizing donation drives ahead of time, anticipating catastrophic devastation in Jamaica.
“Mother Nature might be devastating, but our compassion is unstoppable,” said Miami-Dade Commissioner Oliver Gilbert.
The mayor, county commissioners, nonprofit leaders and Jamaican-American community members shared information on how to donate essential items, money and time as volunteers. Though South Florida is not physically in Melissa’s path, the storm hits home for the region’s large and proud Jamaican community. South Florida is home to the highest concentration of Jamaicans in Florida, which has the second-largest Jamaican population in the country after New York.
“As a born Jamaican and a raised American, this one hits different,” said Marlon Hill, the lead volunteer mobilizer of South Florida Caribbean Strong.
The parts of Jamaica expected to be hardest hit by Melissa were still recovering from last year’s Hurricane Beryl, which passed just south of the island but caused significant damage despite not making landfall. Hill visited the island in recent months and saw tarps still covering many houses.
Donations can be made directly to GEM at its warehouse at 1850 NW 84th Avenue #100 in Doral or to several donations drives happening across South Florida, including in Miramar, Lauderhill and Homestead. Requested items include non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid kits, toiletries, batteries, flashlights, generators, work gloves, yard equipment, chainsaws, sleeping bags, portable radios, water filters and tarps. (Donation drives will not accept used clothing or linens.)
Cash donations of any amount are also heavily encouraged to help pay for transportation costs. GEM is also asking for people to sign up on its website as volunteers in the coming days to pack the supplies into boxes. Michael Capponi, the GEM president and CEO, said the GEM team has already scheduled cargo planes to transport the pallets of tarps, generators and food boxes to Jamaica “so that the second an airport is open, they will land there.”
“If the airport in Montego Bay and Kingston can’t open for days, then we find alternative ways. Then we’ll find a different airport,” Capponi said. “And if no airports are open, it’ll land on another island, and then we’ll bring it over with different boats.”
The Trump administration hasn’t made any major statements about the hurricane, though U.S. forces have been stationed throughout the Caribbean, unleashing a series of strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats. Hill called on President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide Jamaica “tools of construction and reconstruction” as opposed to weapons.
“Two things can be true at once, and we know that you have other fears to take care of,” Hill said at the press conference. “[...] On behalf of the over 1.8 million, almost 2 million, persons of Jamaican descent in the United States, I think we are deserving of making this ask.”
Speakers at the press conference emphasized the deep connection between South Florida and the Caribbean, which Levine-Cava called “extended family.” County Commissioners Gilbert and Danielle Cohen Higgins, who has family in Jamaica, shared similar sentiments.
“These are our neighbors. Now is the time for us to step up and step in,” Cohen Higgins said.
Oliver Mair, the Consul General of the Consulate General of Jamaica-Miami, thanked the community for its support and invoked Jamaica’s unofficial motto: “We’re little, but we’re strong.”
“Many individuals will be relying on the generosity of the world at this time,” Mair said. “Jamaica gives you one love. We ask that you continue to love up on us. Together we can make it work, as Bob Marley says.”
How to help:
Miami Dolphins Donation Drive at Hard Rock Stadium
On Nov. 5, the Miami Dolphins are hosting a donation drive at Hard Rock Stadium in partnership with GEM. Fans that donate will receive a 15% discount at the team store on-site. Enter through Gate 4 to get to the donation area. Click here for more information on requested items.
When: Nov. 5, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr, Miami Gardens. Gate 4.
American Friends of Jamaica
This nonprofit organization works closely with several relief agencies. The group collecting monetary donations online. Click here to donate.
Americares Hurricane Fund
Americares is a global health and disaster relief organization preparing to send an emergency response team to the region. Click here to donate.
Doral Hurricane Relief Drive at GEM
GEM is partnering with the Miami Foundation, South Florida Caribbean Strong and the Caribbean Bar Association to collect, sort and pack donations to be distributed in Jamaica.
GEM is requesting volunteers to help pack supplies in at its Doral warehouse at 1850 NW 84th Avenue #100 in the coming days. Click here to sign up for a day and time to volunteer.
South Florida Caribbean Strong and the Caribbean Bar Association are inviting volunteers to help pack boxes of supplies at GEM’s warehouse on Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click here to register to volunteer.
Click here to donate money to the U.S. Caribbean Strong Relief Fund online.
Click here to purchase hurricane relief items from South Florida Caribbean Strong’s Amazon wishlist.
Food For The Poor Donation Drive in Coconut Creek
This nonprofit has expanded its emergency relief network in Jamaica, establishing three regional operations hubs in Montego Bay, Black River and New Hope. The group plans to start a fourth hub between Montego Bay and St. Ann’s.
Click here to donate money to Food For The Poor’s relief efforts in Jamaica. Click here to purchase items from Food For The Poor’s Amazon wish list to be donated to those in need.
Food For The Poor organized an ongoing donation drive at its warehouse, located at 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek. The group is accepting donations weekdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - noon.
GlobalGiving
This nonprofit launched a fund with a goal of $1 million for disaster relief in Jamaica. Click here to donate.
Homestead Donation Drive
The City of Homestead is partnering with GEM to collect donations at three drop-off locations starting Tuesday. Collection hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Drop-off locations:
- City Hall — 100 Civic Court, Homestead
- Homestead Police Department — 45 NW First Avenue, Homestead
- Pichol Williams Community Center — 951 SW 4th Street, Homestead (This location also collects donations Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps, a global nonprofit that provides emergency health services, deployed an emergency response team to Jamaica with food, hygiene and medical supplies. Click here to donate.
Jamaican Women of Florida Donation Drive
JWOF, an organization dedicated to empowering Jamaican women in Florida, organized a donation drive with several drop-off locations in Broward and Palm Beach.
Drop-off locations:
Juici Patties restaurants in Miramar, Hollywood, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Sunrise, Davie, West Palm, Greenacres, Coral Springs.
Walker’s Chiropractic and Wellness Center — 8844 Miramar Pkwy, Miramar
Thomas Ed Learning Center — 2655 S Rd 7, Suite E820, Wellington
Lauderhill Donation Drive
The City of Lauderhill launched a city-wide donation drive with several drop-off locations. Park hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Drop-off locations:
- Lauderhill City Hall — 5581 W. Oakland Park Blvd.
- Veterans Park — 7600 NW 50th Street
- John Mullins Park — 2000 NW 55th Avenue
- Westwind Park — 4550 NW 82nd Avenue
- Lauderhill Historical Museum — 1080 NW 47th Avenue
- St. George Park — 3501 NW 8th St, Lauderhill, FL 33311
- Joy’s Roti Delight — 1205 NW 40th Avenue (This location also accepts donations Saturday and Sunday.)
Miramar Donation Drives
The City of Miramar is accepting donations 24/7 at the following locations:
- Fire Station 19 – 6700 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023
- Fire Station 70 – 9001 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33025
- Fire Station 84 – 14801 SW 27th Street, Miramar, FL 33027
- Fire Station 100 – 2800 SW 184th Avenue, Miramar, FL 33029
- Fire Station 107 – 11811 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023
- Miramar Police Headquarters – 11765 City Hall Promenade, Miramar, FL 33025
Starting Wednesday, the Miramar Branch Library and Education Center is accepting donations Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Click here for more info.
Miramar Branch Library and Education Center – 2050 Civic Center Place
Pembroke Pines donative drive at library
Starting Wednesday, the Southwest Regional Library is accepting donations Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Click here for more info.
Southwest Regional Library – 16835 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines
World Food Programme USA
World Food Programme USA, a non-profit organization that supports the mission of the United Nations’ World Food Programme, is accepting donations to bring food to Caribbean nations impacted by Melissa. Click here to donate.
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM.