Caribbean community rallies together for Jamaica

Glenroy Bell had been collecting donated items from across Wellingborough

A community group said it had been "keeping the efforts going" to support friends and family affected by Hurricane Melissa after it devastated parts of Jamaica in October.

Glenroy Bell, from the Wellingborough African Caribbean Association (WACA) in Northamptonshire, said the organisation's members would be collecting essential items until 15 December to send to the country.

He hoped more donations, including presents for children, would be made at the Caribbean Christmas Market, which is taking place in the group's centre on Rock Street, Wellingborough, on Saturday.

Mr Bell said he wanted the event to raise awareness about the hurricane's impact and show people that help was still needed.

Items to send to Jamaica have already been collected from Eco Hub Swanspool

Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a category five storm on 28 October, one of the strongest ever recorded in the Caribbean, killing at least 28 people on the island and flattening some coastal communities.

Mr Bell said he had aunts and uncles in Wakefield, Jamaica, who were luckily "safe".

"It's been so sad, areas were flooded and quite badly damaged," he added.

He said he had co-ordinated with other churches and organisations across Wellingborough and Northampton to collect aid.

"We're trying to get as much collected and donated. We've had such a good response, it's been really good.

"We have already collected two large cars full of items, including hygiene kits, tool kits, feminine hygiene items, solar lights and torches, wipes and unperishable food.

"We're trying to support the existing efforts already made, it's going to take a long time, we're going to keep the efforts going," he added.

The category five hurricane - the strongest type - hit the Caribbean in October

Bishop Donnovan Allen, a pastor at the New Testament Church of God in Northampton, said 80 boxes of goods had already been "packed to the rafter" in a van to be sent to a church group in Jamaica.

"We've been left overwhelmed," he said.

Donations, such as tinned goods, wipes, tissues and first aid items had already been sent and he hoped collections would begin again in January.

The community group has collected items including toiletries and tissues