ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Like most people born and raised in St Elizabeth, Sheldon Evans is used to seeing the bountiful farmlands of his home parish. He is still coming to grips with how Hurricane Melissa’s destruction has transformed its lush landscape to rubble.

Evans is pastor of Evangelism Family Life Ministries (EFLM), which has headquarters in Brooklyn and Queens, New York. There are also branches in Brinkley, St Elizabeth and Spanish Town, St Catherine.

He and a multi-member team in New York are coordinating a relief drive with colleagues in St Elizabeth to assist those vanquished by the Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Jamaica on October 28. St Elizabeth, which bore the tag of Jamaica’s bread basket for decades, suffered significant damage.

“The mood on the ground in St Elizabeth after Hurricane Melissa is dire. Many residents are struggling to find shelter, food, and basic necessities, with homes destroyed and roads damaged. The pain and loss are overwhelming,” said Evans in an interview with the Observer Online.

He disclosed that over 20 volunteers, led by Pastor Heather White Davis, are manning the St Elizabeth leg of EFLM’s relief effort. Most of the essential items being shipped are non-perishable food and water.

Caribbean Pastors United, a group of ministers from that region, based in the United States; Irie Jam Radio, Caribbean Power Jam Radio and Favor FM Radio have provided most of the support to EFLM.

Watching the catastrophic developments in Jamaica post-Melissa has been traumatic for Evans, whose roots run deep in St Elizabeth. He was born in the town of Santa Cruz, which was one of the areas hardest hit, while his father and mother are from Malvern and Nain, respectively.

“Hurricane Melissa’s impact is felt deeply in St Elizabeth, where many families are struggling to recover. As a son of this parish and a clergy member, I’m passionate about lending a hand both spiritual and natural,” he said. “It’s important to come together to support our community’s resilience and rebuild stronger than ever!”

Hurricane Melissa’s 185 miles per hour winds also caused considerable damage to homes, hospitals and roads in the parishes of Westmoreland, St James, St Ann, Trelawny, Manchester and Clarendon.

The Ministry of Information has confirmed 32 deaths resulting from the hurricane.