With the help of Airline Ambassadors International, Sylvia Doreen Bryan organized a project to help the Parish of St. Elizabeth recover after being devastated by Hurricane Melissa. Dr Kevin Hylton and Sylvia visited the areas most affected. Sylvia’s observations and final report will show donors how their kindness and generosity made a difference.
Our presence in Siloah, St. Elizabeth was bittersweet. Seeing my friends and former neighbors was an emotional moment. Some of the roofs are still destroyed after 4 months. Groceries, essential items and financial donations were given to start the process for rebuilding their homes. Before we left, our friends prepared dinner for us. To lose so much but still they thought of us. This reminded me how selfless and loving they are.
Update: My neighbor’s electricity was restored 6 weeks ago.
During a recent visit to Tiny Tots Educare in Black River, I saw firsthand how your donations are making a difference. Hurricane Melissa tore off the school’s roof and damaged desks, supplies, and equipment. When I arrived, carpenters and staff were already hard at work restoring the building, funded in part by contributions we delivered directly to the school’s director. The children are back in the classroom. The school still lacks electricity, and the wider Black River community continues to recover, but Tiny Tots is once again providing students with a safe, stable place to learn. Your generosity helped make that possible.
Dr. Kevin Hylton and myself met with Pastor Tulloch.
When we arrived at St. John Anglican Church in Black River, it was worse than the media coverage and photos. The church building (almost 300 yrs old) was decimated.
To see the cemetery with cracked and broken tombstones was unbelievable. He shared with us that the congregation has continued their worship services. The resilience of Jamaicans was present and felt. There is PTSD among the children. Every time it rains, they are afraid another storm will destroy what they have.
Before we left, Pastor Tulloch told us an anecdote that will never be forgotten. He visited the church everyday. One day he saw a bird with one piece of straw. He witnessed everyday the bird rebuilding a nest. He watched the baby birds being born and learning how to fly.
This is something for all of us remember. It’s possible to start over no matter what.
Pastor Tulloch promised us updates on the rebuilding of the church that was destroyed.
Airline Ambassadors International partnered with the Excelsior Unity Circle for the Hurricane Melissa Project. Excelsior Unity Circle consist of professional women that share the same passion as AAI in service to the Savanna La Mar Hospital in the Parish of Westmoreland. EUC’s President Rashenna Wilson along with Caroline Austin-Mattison arranged their international mission pre-Hurricane Melissa.
Dr. Lernice Henry, the pediatrician of the group, saw first hand the needs of the pediatric department. As a result, there was a mutual agreement with AAI, and a generous donation was presented to the Excelsior Unity Circle.
Sylvia Bryan of AAI personally delivered the donation to the Savanna La Mar Hospital pediatric department on behalf of Excelsior Unity Circle. AAI with EUC share the same passion in helping others in need. It was a meaningful partnership.
Below is a letter from St John’s Parrish Church thanking Sylvia and Kevin for their work and specifically for a donation of $172,000 in Jamaican dollars. In total, the Hurricane Melissa Relief Project raised over $5,000 US dollars to help these areas in need.
I want to sincerely thank all the donors for their generosity for making the Hurricane Melissa Relief Project a success.
Many thanks to Chris Davison at AAI for his graphic design expertise.
My sincerest thanks to my logistical planner and advisor, Dr. Kevin Hylton. He organized our transportation and accommodations around St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland.
This project would not be possible without the support of Nancy Rivard, Founder of Airline Ambassadors International. Her kindness and encouragement inspired me to make this project come to fruition.
